Romania Warns Moscow After Russian Drone Hits Galati

Romanian President Nicusor Dan has hardened his stance toward Moscow after a Russian drone struck a residential building in Galati, saying Bucharest could expel Russia’s ambassador if similar incidents continue.

In an interview with the BBC, Dan warned that Russian attacks on Ukrainian targets close to the Romanian border pose a growing risk to citizens of the NATO member state, the Romanian news agency Agerpres reported. He said the possible expulsion of the ambassador would be a diplomatic measure and a warning to Moscow.

Dan said Romania had recorded 20 to 30 drone incursions into its territory over the past two years. Most of them did not involve explosive payloads, but the latest incident was more serious, according to a technical assessment.

Romanian authorities identified the drone that crashed in Galati as a Russian Geran-2 unmanned aerial vehicle, the Russian version of Iran’s Shahed-136 drone. Reuters reported that the strike injured two people and marked the first time Russia’s war in Ukraine had caused injuries in a populated area of a NATO country.

“When the Russians attack cities on the other side of the Danube, they have to be sure that they do not harm Romanian citizens”, Dan said.

The president also convened a meeting of Romania’s Supreme Council of National Defence after the incident and promised an appropriate response. In a post on X, he said Romania would not downplay any act that threatened the lives of its citizens, national security or the country’s sovereignty.

(max)