Romania has formally requested NATO to accelerate the delivery of air defense systems in response to a recent incident involving a Russian drone that crashed into a residential building in Galați.
The drone entered Romanian airspace on the night of May 29 and collided with the roof of an apartment complex, igniting a fire and resulting in minor injuries to two individuals. According to the Romanian Ministry of Defense, the drone had crossed from Ukrainian airspace, where Russian forces have been targeting civilian structures.
The Romanian Foreign Minister described the event as an “unacceptable and blatant violation” of the nation’s airspace. She noted that NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander, General Alexis Greenkewich, has supported Bucharest’s earlier proposals regarding the relocation of military equipment, and Romania is now seeking to expedite these deliveries.
Currently, Romania does not plan to invoke Article 4 of the NATO treaty, which allows for urgent consultations among member states.
“We have confirmation that this was a Russian drone,” stated Oana Toiu, the Romanian Foreign Minister.
During the incident, two F-16 fighter jets were deployed, but the drone was not intercepted due to the threat occurring over a populated area.
NATO is assessing the potential for optimizing Romania’s air defense systems, which may include the integration of the domestic drone combat system, MEROPS, under NATO command.
Romania’s interim Prime Minister, Ilie Bolojan, indicated that the country is requesting specialized radars to detect low-flying targets.
In addition to military requests, Bucharest has taken significant diplomatic measures, including summoning the Russian ambassador to Romania and closing the Russian consulate in Constanța. The Russian consul will also be expelled from the country.
This decision has been confirmed by Romanian President Nicușor Dan.
In response, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova threatened Romania with “consequences,” while Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, cynically remarked that EU countries should “remain silent on this matter.”
Meanwhile, the European Union has expressed outrage over the incident, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stating that Russia’s aggression has “crossed yet another line.”
On the night of May 29, during a large-scale Russian attack on the Odesa region, the hostile drone entered Romanian airspace and struck a residential building in Galați, prompting warnings from authorities about the risk of falling debris.
Later, President Nicușor Dan provided further details of the incident, noting that the drone was part of a larger group of 43 drones moving along the Danube River.
In light of the attack, Bucharest has implemented stringent measures against Russian diplomats, including the complete closure of the Russian consulate in Constanța and the expulsion of its consul.
Romania has requested NATO to expedite air defense supplies following a Russian drone incident that resulted in injuries and a fire in Galați. The Romanian government is also taking diplomatic actions against Russia, including the closure of its consulate in Constanța.