The President of Romania, Nicușor Dan, has issued a warning to Russia regarding the safety of Romanian citizens in light of recent drone incidents linked to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. In an interview with the BBC, Dan emphasized the need for Russia to ensure that its military actions do not endanger Romanian lives.
Dan reported that Romania has recorded approximately 20 to 30 drone incidents over the past two years. He noted that while previous drones were not armed, a recent discovery of an explosive-laden drone that failed to detonate has raised significant concerns about public safety. He stated, “Now this poses a real danger to Romanian citizens. When the Russians strike cities across the Danube, they must be assured that their actions do not threaten Romanian citizens. This is a warning to the Russian side. We hope this will be enough. If not, we have other measures at our disposal.”
“Now this poses a real danger to Romanian citizens. When the Russians strike cities across the Danube, they must be assured that their actions do not threaten Romanian citizens. This is a warning to the Russian side. We hope this will be enough. If not, we have other measures at our disposal.”
The President also indicated that Romania may consider expelling the Russian ambassador if drone-related incidents persist.
On May 29, a Russian drone crashed into a ten-story building in the Romanian city of Galați during a Russian airstrike on Ukraine, resulting in a fire and injuries to two individuals. The Romanian Ministry of Defense confirmed that the drone was of Russian origin, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the incident as a “serious and irresponsible escalation” by Russia. President Dan suggested that the drone was likely shot down by Ukrainian air defenses.
In response to the incident, Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Russian ambassador for discussions, and subsequently declared the Russian consul in Constanța a persona non grata.
NATO has also reacted to the situation, with Secretary General Mark Rutte expressing support for Romanian authorities and condemning Russia’s actions. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen remarked that the Russian war against Ukraine has “crossed another line,” expressing full solidarity with Romania and its people.
Romania’s Foreign Minister, Oana Cătuș, stated that the country is considering initiating consultations with NATO allies under Article 4 of the alliance’s treaty following the drone incident.
The declaration of the Russian consul as a persona non grata reflects Romania’s serious stance on the matter. President Dan has not ruled out further diplomatic actions, including the expulsion of the Russian ambassador, should similar incidents occur in the future.
Romania's President Nicușor Dan has warned Russia about the safety of Romanian citizens following drone incidents linked to the conflict in Ukraine. The situation escalated after a Russian drone crashed in Galați, prompting Romania to consider diplomatic repercussions against Russia.