Romania Summons Russian Envoy After Drone Strikes Apartment
Romania summoned Russia's ambassador after a drone strike injured two people in Galați, marking the first time a Russian drone hit a densely populated area inside NATO-member Romania.
The incident, which Romania has described as an extremely serious violation of its airspace and sovereignty, occurred during a Russian overnight assault on Ukrainian infrastructure targets along the Danube River, according to Brussels Signal.
Oana Țoiu, Romania’s foreign minister, directly blamed Moscow for what she called a grave and reckless escalation that breaches international law. She confirmed the drone had been deployed to strike Ukrainian infrastructure before it veered off course and hit Romanian territory. Țoiu stated that Romania would outline consequences for diplomatic relations with Russia and push for additional European sanctions in response.
The strike marks the first time a Russian drone has impacted a densely populated area inside Romania and caused civilian injuries. A woman and child were hospitalized with minor injuries after approximately 70 residents evacuated the burning building. Two additional people received treatment at the scene.
NATO Member Under Fire
Romania, a member of both NATO and the European Union, shares a 650-kilometer land border with Ukraine. The country has immediately informed allied governments and NATO headquarters of the breach and requested accelerated delivery of anti-drone defense capabilities, according to the foreign ministry.
The Romanian Defense Ministry reported that military aircraft and helicopters were scrambled as soon as the Russian drones appeared on radar systems. The offending drone entered Romanian airspace during Moscow’s renewed attacks on civilian and infrastructure targets near the shared border.
Galați sits on the Danube River near Romania’s frontiers with both Ukraine and Moldova, directly across the water from Izmail, Ukraine’s largest Danube port and a frequent target of Russian bombardment.
Pattern of Airspace Violations
Romanian defense officials revealed that Russian drones have violated the country’s airspace 28 times since Moscow began its campaign of strikes against Ukrainian port facilities across the Danube. Romania previously scrambled fighter jets over a similar airspace breach in September 2025.
NATO issued a statement condemning what it termed Russia’s recklessness and pledged to continue strengthening alliance defenses against all threats, including unmanned aerial systems.
Eastern Flank Tensions Rising
The strike is expected to heighten tensions along NATO’s eastern flank, where member states have grown increasingly concerned about the Ukraine conflict spilling across their borders. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have all reported their own drone incidents in recent weeks, signaling a broader pattern of airspace violations affecting multiple alliance members.
The incident underscores the ongoing threat posed by Moscow’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine to the security of neighboring NATO and EU member states. Russia continues to wage an unlawful conflict that threatens regional stability and the safety of civilians beyond Ukraine’s borders.
With information from Brussels Signal
