NATO has criticized Russia for its irresponsible actions following a drone attack on a 10-story residential building in southeast Romania that resulted in a fire and injuries to two individuals.
The incident occurred in the city of Galati during a Russian assault on Ukraine, marking the first instance of a drone striking a densely populated area in Romania during Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
Expressing condemnation, a NATO spokesperson stated on Friday that NATO will enhance its defenses against various threats, including drones, in response to Russia’s actions. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has been in contact with Romanian authorities regarding the situation.
In response to the attack, the Romanian defense ministry deployed two F-16 fighter jets and a military helicopter to monitor the area. Pilots were given authorization to intercept any drones, and residents in border regions were advised to seek shelter.
Romania, sharing a lengthy border with Ukraine, has reported multiple instances of Russian drones breaching its airspace since the conflict began. While Romanian law permits the shooting down of drones during peacetime if lives or property are endangered, no such action has been taken. The defense ministry has recovered drone remnants on numerous occasions.
Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu announced that diplomatic actions will be pursued in response to the violation of international law and Romanian airspace. Requests for accelerated transfer of anti-drone capabilities to Romania have been made to NATO.
Recent weeks have seen Ukrainian drones entering Baltic countries’ airspace, leading to heightened tensions with Russia. The drone strike in Galati caused a fire on the 10th floor of the building, resulting in injuries to two individuals who received medical treatment on site. The emergency response agency reported that 70 people were evacuated from the building.
The drone’s explosive payload detonated upon impact, causing the fire to be extinguished. Radar contact with the drone was lost as it approached Galati at a low altitude.
Deputy Interior Minister Raed Arafat disclosed that the drone disrupted two building stairwells and damaged five vehicles. In a separate incident, an unmanned drone without explosives was found in a different area in Romania.
Authorities are investigating the origins of the drone, which had a wingspan of approximately 10 feet. Meanwhile, southern Ukraine reported an attack on the Izmail port by multiple drones, a strategic location near the Romanian border.
Galati had previously experienced a drone incident in April, resulting in damage to infrastructure. Efforts were made to safely dispose of the unexploded payload of that drone.
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