NATO Vows Defense After Russian Drone Strikes Romania Territory
NATO declared readiness to defend all alliance territory after a Russian drone struck a Romanian apartment building, injuring two people near the Ukrainian border.
According to Brussels Signal, the incident occurred on May 29 when a Russian-made Geran-2 drone hit the roof of a ten-storey apartment block in Galați, a city in eastern Romania near the Ukrainian border. The impact triggered an explosion and fire that injured two people.
Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General, reached out directly to Romanian President Nicușor Dan by telephone to express the alliance’s absolute solidarity and concern for those wounded in the attack. The former Dutch prime minister reinforced NATO’s commitment to territorial defense in a social media statement following the call.
Russia’s reckless behaviour is a danger to us all, Rutte stated, emphasizing that the alliance would continue enhancing its capabilities to deter and defend against all threats, including unmanned aerial systems.
The NATO chief pointed out that Moscow’s ongoing attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure throughout Ukraine demonstrate that the war’s consequences extend well beyond Ukrainian borders. He called for an end to Russia’s war and its disregard for civilian safety, while reaffirming NATO’s dual commitment to strengthening home defenses and supporting Kyiv against Russian aggression.
Romania’s defense ministry confirmed that radar systems tracked the drone before it crashed into the residential structure. The country has now documented 28 separate airspace violations since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Oana Toiu, Romania’s foreign minister, characterized the drone strike as a serious breach of international law and summoned the Russian ambassador for an official protest. She indicated that Bucharest had requested expedited delivery of anti-drone defense capabilities from its allies.
NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart condemned Russia’s recklessness and confirmed that Secretary General Rutte maintained close contact with Romanian authorities throughout the crisis. The alliance pledged to continue reinforcing its defenses against all airborne threats.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Russia’s war had crossed yet another line and expressed solidarity with Romania.
The Romanian incident follows a pattern of airspace violations affecting NATO’s eastern flank. A Ukrainian drone recently strayed into Estonian airspace, while both Latvia and Lithuania have issued alerts regarding possible incursions into their territories.
With information from Brussels Signal
