NATO member Romania reported on Friday that a Russian drone injured two people in the southeastern city of Galati during an overnight attack on neighbouring Ukraine. The incident marks the first time in the war that a drone has struck a densely populated area in Romania and caused injuries.
The drone hit the roof of a 10-storey block of flats, causing an explosion and sparking a fire, authorities said. Emergency crews evacuated around 70 residents from the building. A woman and her child were taken to hospital with minor injuries, while two others were treated on site for panic attacks.
Romania, which shares a 650-kilometre land border with Ukraine, has experienced 28 instances of Russian drones breaching its airspace since Moscow began targeting Kyiv’s ports along the Danube River, according to the country’s defence ministry.
Drone fragments have fallen in Romania on 47 occasions, prompting officials to warn residents in border counties Braila, Galati, and Tulcea to take cover during recent incursions.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he had spoken with Romanian authorities, affirming the alliance’s support: “I assured [Romanian officials] of NATO’s absolute solidarity with Romania and expressed sympathy for those injured in the incident. I affirmed that NATO stands ready to defend every inch of Allied territory… Russia’s reckless behaviour is a danger to us all. They continue to target civilians and civilian infrastructure across Ukraine.”
“Romania will take the necessary diplomatic measures in response to this serious violation of international law and its airspace,” Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu said on X. She added that NATO allies had been informed and that Romania had requested expedited support for anti-drone capabilities.
The defence ministry said two F-16 fighter jets and a military helicopter were scrambled to monitor the attack. Pilots were authorised to shoot down any drones if necessary, though Romanian law allows such action only when lives or property are at risk.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also condemned the attack, stating: “Russia’s war of aggression has crossed yet another line. A Russian drone incursion struck a densely populated area in Romania, injuring civilians. We stand in full solidarity with Romania and its people… We are preparing a 21st package of sanctions.”
Deputy Interior Minister Raed Arafat, who oversees the emergency response agency, reported that the drone damaged two stairwells and five cars. The entire explosive payload detonated, and the fire was extinguished without further casualties.
In a separate incident, authorities found a drone without an explosive charge near Basesti in northern Romania. The unmanned aircraft, with a wingspan of about three metres, was secured while officials investigated its origin and how it entered Romanian territory.
The incident comes amidst rising concerns about the war spilling across Ukraine’s borders. Ukrainian drones have recently strayed into Baltic airspace, heightening tensions with Russia.
Meanwhile, in southern Ukraine, Izmail port in the Odesa region - a strategically important site on the Danube - came under drone attack early on Friday. The city lies close to the Romanian border and is frequently targeted due to its strategic value.
Galati itself was last hit in April, when a drone damaged an electricity pole and a household annex, prompting evacuations. Authorities remotely detonated the unexploded device at the time.
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