Romania has declared the Russian consul in Constanța a persona non grata following an incident in which a Russian drone struck a residential building in Galați, injuring two individuals. This decision was announced by Romanian President Nicușor Dan after an emergency meeting of the country’s Supreme Council of National Defense (CSAT).
President Dan stated that Romania holds the Russian Federation fully accountable for the incident, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation. “Last night, a serious incident occurred, injuring two Romanian citizens, and full responsibility lies with Russia,” he remarked.
The consul’s expulsion and the closure of the consulate represent one of Romania’s most stringent diplomatic responses in recent years, particularly amid heightened security concerns along NATO’s eastern flank. Dan confirmed that the drone involved was a Geran-2 model, launched from Russian territory as part of a swarm operation, with only one drone crossing into Romanian airspace.
The drone crash occurred during a Russian airstrike on Ukraine on the night of May 29, when it fell onto a ten-story building in Galați, igniting a fire. The Romanian Ministry of Defense has identified the drone as Russian, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs characterized the incident as a “serious and irresponsible escalation” by Russia. Following the event, President Dan instructed diplomats to prepare measures regarding Bucharest’s future relations with Moscow. Subsequently, Foreign Minister Oana-Silvia Cîtu indicated that the Russian ambassador had been summoned for discussions.
NATO has also responded, with Secretary General Mark Rutte maintaining communication with Romanian authorities and condemning Russia’s actions. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the Russian war against Ukraine has “crossed another line,” expressing full solidarity with Romania and its people.
In light of the incident, Foreign Minister Oana Cîtu mentioned that Romania is considering initiating consultations with NATO allies under Article 4 of the alliance’s treaty, which allows member states to discuss security concerns.
Romania has expelled the Russian consul in response to a drone strike that injured two citizens. This incident highlights escalating tensions and security concerns in Eastern Europe amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.