Russia condemns Romanias drone accusations at UN as unfounded
Russia’s ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, has accused Romania of rushing to convene an emergency Security Council session and leveling "unfounded accusations" over last week’s drone incident in Galați, where a Russian drone crashed into a building. Nebenzya claimed Romanian officials contradicted themselves in their statements and demanded an "objective investigation," while insisting Russia stands ready to participate—despite refusing direct involvement in the probe so far.
The dispute escalated at the UN on Monday, where 56 countries condemned Russia’s "unacceptable" behavior after Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu framed the drone’s incursion as a direct consequence of Moscow’s escalatory tactics in Ukraine. Țoiu thanked the international community for its support, declaring such "flagrant violations" must not become "the new normal." The U.S. reinforced NATO’s collective defense pledge, vowing to protect "every centimeter" of alliance territory, while Ukraine urged allies to shoot down Russian drones violating their airspace.
Russian diplomats doubled down on denial. Nebenzya dismissed Romania’s claims as hasty, while Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s envoy to international organizations in Vienna, accused Bucharest of reflexively blaming Moscow for "any unpleasant incident," calling Romanian officials "frivolous." The Kremlin’s narrative aligns with its broader strategy of historical revisionism, as Dutch researcher Niels Drost noted: Putin weaponizes a selective version of history to justify aggression, including denying Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The incident follows Romania’s expulsion of a Russian consul from Constanța—a move analysts call its most aggressive diplomatic response yet. With tensions simmering, the question remains whether Bucharest will adopt more proactive measures, such as intercepting drones, if violations persist. The Security Council session underscored the incident’s potential to widen the Ukraine war’s spillover, with NATO’s eastern flank now a testing ground for Russia’s willingness to probe alliance resolve.
Russia condemns Romanias drone accusations at UN as unfounded
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