Romania confirms Russian drone strike injures two, escalates diplomatic crisis
Romania confirms a Russian drone crashed into a residential building in Galați on May 29, injuring two people and exposing gaps in NATO’s eastern flank defenses. Authorities in Bucharest identify the unmanned aircraft as Russian beyond doubt, citing forensic analysis of debris and flight-path data, President Nicușor Dan tells the BBC. Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu declares the attack “inacceptable and irresponsible,” directly accusing Vladimir Putin of knowing the drone’s origin despite Kremlin denials.
The incident triggers immediate diplomatic escalation. Dan warns that Romania will expel the Russian ambassador if further drone strikes occur, calling the move part of a “diplomatic hierarchy of measures.” The United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair, Republican Jim Risch, condemns the violation of Romanian airspace as “reckless” and “unacceptable,” reaffirming Washington’s commitment to NATO’s Article 5. Meanwhile, U.S. military aid has so far equipped only a fraction of Romania’s 2,300-kilometer border, Dan reveals.
In Moscow, former Russian President Dmitri Medvedev amplifies the psychological front, releasing an AI-generated video that depicts terrified caricatures of Western leaders—Macron, Merz, Starmer, and von der Leyen—while he recites threats against the West. The clip, posted on May 30, follows the Galați strike by less than 24 hours, underscoring the Kremlin’s willingness to pair kinetic attacks with digital intimidation.
Residents of the damaged Galați apartment block tell the BBC they feel abandoned, contrasting NATO’s security promises with the reality of shattered windows and emergency evacuations. The drone’s impact marks the first confirmed Russian strike on Romanian soil since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, bringing the war to within 100 kilometers of NATO’s southeastern border.
Romania confirms Russian drone strike injures two, escalates diplomatic crisis
- digi24
- adevarul
