Romania has accused Russia of a "serious and irresponsible escalation" after a drone hit a high-rise building inside Romanian territory near the border with Ukraine, an incident that sparked condemnation from Europe, NATO, and the United States.
The drone entered Romanian airspace during overnight attacks on Ukraine and crashed into a residential building in Galati, a city on the Danube River, Romania's Defense Ministry said in a May 29 press release. According to the ministry, the crash sparked a fire, prompting an emergency response involving multiple security and rescue agencies.
According to Romanian officials, the building was evacuated and at least two people sustained minor injuries.
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Romania Accuses Russia Of 'Serious Escalation' After Drone Hits Residential Building
"This incident represents a serious and irresponsible escalation on the part of the Russian Federation," Romanian Foreign Minister Toiu Oana said in a post on X.
"The Russian Federation bears direct responsibility for these grave and irresponsible actions."
Oana added that Bucharest had informed EU members states, NATO allies, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and "requested measures to accelerate the transfer of anti-drone capabilities to Romania."
"Russia's reckless behavior is a danger to us all," NATO chief Mark Rutte said in response to the incident, noting NATO "stands ready to defend every inch of Allied territory."
"They continue to target civilians and civilian infrastructure across Ukraine, and last night showed yet again that the implications of their illegal war of aggression don't stop at the border."
The building damaged by the drone strike in Galati
Romanian President Nicusor Dan said he had convened a meeting of the Supreme Council of National Defense to discuss the implications of the "most serious incident" affecting the Romanian territory since the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.
"We will order proportionate measures in relation to the Russian Federation," he said.
Later in the day, Dan announced that Bucharest would shut down the Russian consulate in the Romanian city of Constanta and expel the Russian consul.
Moscow vowed a swift response to the move, calling accusations of a drone attack a "buzz" meant to shift attention from recent alleged Ukrainian attacks inside Russian-occupied regions.
"Retaliatory measures in response to the declaration of the Russian consul-general as persona non grata and the closure of the Consulate General will not be long in coming," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told state news agency RIA Novosti.
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Germany Tells Russia Threats Are 'Unacceptable' After Arms Makers List PublishedDmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and now deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, known for his belligerent rhetoric toward European countries, said it was necessary to determine whose drone attacked Romania.
However, Medvedev also called EU member states "direct participants" in the war against Russia and told them to "shut up," warning that such incidents might continue. "Let them get ready: This will continue to happen."
"After all, European drones, spare parts for them, and other weapons, not to mention intelligence, are used in attacks on our country every day," Medvedev said.
US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker has condemned the attack describing it as "reckless incursion" on Romanian territory, saying that the United States stands with "our NATO Ally Romania."
"We will defend every inch of NATO territory," Whitaker stated.
US Congressman Joe Wilson said that Russia, "belligerently and unprovoked," had attacked Romania, saying "families sleeping in their homes are the target" and that "deterrence is the only way to stop Russia's perverse acts."
It was not clear whether Bucharest would call for emergency consultations under the alliance's Article 4.
Article 4 consultations -- a provision in the NATO treaty that allows any member country to formally request emergency consultations with allies whenever its territorial integrity, political independence, or security is threatened, have been called three times since Russia launched its full-scale war on Ukraine in February 2022.
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Romanian Mayor Says His Village Now 'Part Of The War' Amid Russian Drone IncursionsArticle 4 is purely a consultation mechanism. Invoking it does not guarantee a military response or the activation of Article 5, which has happened only once in the alliance's 77-year history was after the September 11 attacks in the United States.
Romania, a NATO and EU member that shares a 650-kilometers border with Ukraine, has recorded 28 Russian drone incursions into its airspace since Moscow began attacking Ukrainian ports along the Danube River during Russia's war against Ukraine.
Damage is seen on the top floor of the building in Galati
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha warned that "Russian aggression poses a real threat to the Black Sea region and the entire Europe."
Maia Sandu, president of Moldova, which borders both Romania and Ukraine, strongly condemned what she described as "Russian drones striking Romanians in their homes."
"This is grave," she said in a post on X. "Russia is a danger to everyone and must be stopped."
"Russia's war of aggression has crossed yet another line," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X.
"A Russian drone incursion struck a densely populated area in Romania, injuring civilians. On EU territory," she said.
"We will keep increasing the pressure on Russia. We are preparing a 21st package of sanctions."