Russian drone strikes Romanian apartment, injuring two: NATO scrambles jets in escalating crisis
A Russian drone crashed into a residential building in Galați, Romania, injuring two people and triggering an emergency response from NATO allies. The incident, described by Romanian President Nicușor Dan as the most serious to affect national territory since the start of the Ukraine war, has prompted an urgent meeting of the Supreme Council of National Defence (CSAT) and drawn sharp international condemnation.
The drone struck a 10th-floor apartment in Galați early Friday morning, causing an explosion and fire. Two residents suffered minor injuries and were hospitalized, while dozens more were evacuated. Romania’s Ministry of National Defence (MApN) confirmed that two F-16 fighter jets were scrambled from the Fetești airbase, supported by an IAR 330 SOCAT helicopter, with pilots authorized to engage targets throughout the alert. A RO-Alert emergency warning was issued for Galați, Brăila, and Tulcea before impact.
President Dan convened the CSAT at 11:00 AM to assess the incident and determine proportional measures against Russia. Interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan called the situation "unacceptable" and urged accelerated efforts to strengthen Romania’s defenses. NATO swiftly condemned the incident, labeling Russia’s actions "reckless," while Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs and Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski expressed solidarity with Romania, framing the event as part of a broader pattern of Russian aggression.
International media coverage has emphasized the drone’s impact on NATO territory, noting this is not the first time Russian munitions have strayed into Romania since the Ukraine conflict began. Ukrainian outlets described the incident as one of the most severe on Romanian soil, occurring amid a fresh wave of Russian drone strikes near the shared border. The crash follows repeated warnings from Bucharest about the risks posed by the war’s spillover, with officials now expected to push for enhanced air defense capabilities and closer coordination with NATO allies.
Russian drone strikes Romanian apartment, injuring two: NATO scrambles jets in escalating crisis
- adevarul
- digi24
