Russian drone strike ‘most serious security incident’ in Romania since start of Ukraine war – Europe live
‘Most serious security incident’ in Romania since start of Ukraine war, president Dan says
Romania’s Dan also offered his readout from the call with Nato’s Rutte.
He said it was “the most serious security incident to occur on Romanian territory since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.”
“Full responsibility lies with the Russian Federation, whose behavior demonstrates total disregard for international law and for the safety of the citizens of a Nato member state.”
Dan stressed the need to work with Nato on strengthening the defence of the alliance’s eastern flank.
“Romania is a strong ally and will not accept Russia’s aggression against Ukraine threatening the security of Romanian citizens.”
Key events
Romania’s foreign minister Oana-Silvia Țoiu spoke with the EU’s chief diplomat Kaja Kallas this morning, discussing the overnight incident and “its implications for the safety of citizens.”
“I received assurances of strong European solidarity in response to this irresponsible escalation by the Russian Federation. We will accelerate the adoption of the new package of sanctions against Russia,” she said.
Czechia’s president Pavel calls for ‘strong’ response so Russia ‘clearly understand’ Nato ‘will not tolerate such attacks’
Oh, and Czechia’s president Pavel has just made it clear that his views, as expressed in our interview last week, still stand as he called for “a strong international response” to the drone incident.
In a post on X, he said:
“The unprecedented night-time strike by a Russian drone on a residential building in Galați, Romania, which left two people injured, is completely unacceptable. However, we should not stop at simply condemning it together.
I therefore unequivocally support Romanian President Dan’s call for a strong international response.
Russia must clearly understand that we will not tolerate such attacks.”
Hungary’s Magyar condemns drone incident as former PM Orbán says it reinforces need for Hungary’s ‘neutrality’
Meanwhile, Hungary’s new prime minister Péter Magyar “condemned in the strongest terms” the last night’s incident in Romania, expressing his country’s solidarity with the Romanian people.
“Yesterday’s Russian drone attack once again highlights that the unity of Europe and Nato is more important today than ever before,” he said.
But curiously, his predecessor, Viktor Orbán, also chose to speak publicly by putting more pressure on Hungary to “maintain the policy of neutrality” in response to the Russian aggression on Ukraine.
“This incident reinforces the fact that the war poses a direct threat to neighbouring countries,” he argued, urging the new administration in Budapest “to refrain from taking any steps towards the pro-war policy advocated by parts of Europe.”
Not a word of condemnation or criticism towards Russia from Orbán though.
The incident comes just days after the Czech president, Petr Pavel, has urged Nato to “show its teeth” in response to Russia’s repeated testing of the alliance’s resolve on its eastern flank, suggesting a range of options including switching off its internet, cutting off its banks from global financial systems and shooting down jets that violate allied airspace.
Speaking to the Guardian in Prague last week, Pavel called for “decisive enough, potentially even asymmetric” responses to counter Moscow’s provocative behaviour against the alliance or risk the Kremlin intensifying its actions.
A retired general and former chair of the Nato military committee, the 64-year-old’s defence background is rare among European leaders. His years of experience talking to Moscow on the suspended Nato-Russia council have made him an influential voice on the future of the alliance and the threats it faces.
Pavel said Russian military leaders laughed at times at the alliance’s decision-making paralysis.
“When I asked them why do they do these provocative actions in the air, close encounters or overflights over battleships in the Black Sea or the Baltic Sea, their answer was ‘because we can’. That’s exactly the kind of behaviour we allowed,” he said.
‘Most serious security incident’ in Romania since start of Ukraine war, president Dan says
Romania’s Dan also offered his readout from the call with Nato’s Rutte.
He said it was “the most serious security incident to occur on Romanian territory since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.”
“Full responsibility lies with the Russian Federation, whose behavior demonstrates total disregard for international law and for the safety of the citizens of a Nato member state.”
Dan stressed the need to work with Nato on strengthening the defence of the alliance’s eastern flank.
“Romania is a strong ally and will not accept Russia’s aggression against Ukraine threatening the security of Romanian citizens.”
US ambassador to Nato condemns drone incident in Romania
US ambassador to Nato, Matthew Whitaker, responded to the incident on X, saying:
“We stand with our Nato Ally Romania and condemn this reckless incursion on its territory. Our thoughts are with the injured in Galati. We will defend every inch of Nato territory.”
Speaking to the Romanian news portal Adevarul, retired general Dan Grecu suggested that the drone may have been electronically jammed during a Russian attack on Ukraine.
He argued that the drone may have been disrupted by Ukraine as a defensive measure, with no intention to send it towards Romania either, but just to disorientate the machine’s location systems – making its incursion into Romania accidental.
Grecu added that it was fortunate the drone did not strike the lower floors of the apartment block, noting that such a collision could have had far more serious consequences.
First daylight pictures from the scene
We are now getting more pictures showing the extent of damage caused by the drone.
Russian drone spent four minutes in Romanian airspace, shooting it down was deemed to risky, minister says
Meanwhile, Romania’s defence minister Radu Miruță offered a bit more detail on the incident.
In a post on Facebook, he said the Russian drone – confirmed as of Geran 2 type – was in Romanian airspace for four minutes, and was immediately spotted on a newly installed air defence radar in the area.
However, despite the military’s readiness to shoot it down, the move was deemed too risky, he said.
“We are in constant contact and are already working on additional measures to strengthen security on the eastern flank. Some of these measures will be announced in the coming hours,” he said.
Romania’s chief of defence staff, Gen Gheorghiță Vlad, spoke with Nato commanders this morning, discussing the last night’s drone incident in Galați.
In comments reported by Antena3, he said it further underlined the need to ramp up the surveillance and the reaction forces on the eastern flank of Nato.
But he stressed that Romania was not the intended target of the attack, but it showed the risks posed by the continuing Russian aggression on Ukraine, Antena3 reported.
‘Russia’s reckless behaviour is a danger to us all,’ Nato’s Rutte says after call with Romanian president
Nato’s Mark Rutte said he just spoke with Romania’s president Dan about the overnight incident, assuring him of Nato’s “absolute solidarity.”
“I affirmed that Nato stands ready to defend every inch of Allied territory. We will continue to enhance our readiness to deter and defend against any threat, including from drones,” he said.
He added:
“Russia’s reckless behaviour is a danger to us all. 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.”
He continued:
“Russia’s war needs to end, as does Russia’s disregard for civilian safety. For our part, we will continue to strengthen our deterrence and defence at home and continue our support for Ukraine as they defend against Russia’s aggression.”
We are getting more reactions to the incident in Romania from around Europe.
EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said:
“The Russian drone crash into apartments in Galați was a blatant and serious violation of Romania’s sovereignty and European airspace. I spoke with Foreign Minister @oana_toiu this morning to convey the EU’s full solidarity with Romania.
Russia has long ago stopped respecting borders. Moscow cannot be allowed to breach European airspace with impunity.
EU Foreign Ministers yesterday vowed to ramp up pressure on Russia, increase support for Ukraine, and invest in Europe’s own defence readiness.”
Lithuania’s president Gitanas Nausėda strongly condemned “the heinous Russian drone attack,” calling it “a blatant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Romania.”
Latvia’s president Edgars Rinkēvičs also expressed “full solidarity” with Romania.”
Austrian chancellor Christian Stocker said it was “utterly reprehensible” and “another dangerous escalation” from Russia.
Morning opening: Russian drone hits apartment block, injures two in Nato member Romania
Jakub Krupa
A Russian drone launched against Ukraine crashed into an apartment building in Galati in eastern Romania, a Nato country, leaving two people injured.
Romania’s president Nicușor Dan has called a meeting of the national security council for this morning to discuss the response, saying he will “order proportionate measures.” Separately, Romania summoned the Russian ambassador.
Furious Dan said on social media:
“What happened today in Galați is the direct consequence of Russia’s war of aggression unleashed against Ukraine, the irresponsible and indiscriminate manner in which Moscow operates these weapon systems in the immediate vicinity of Nato borders, as well as the systematic disregard for international law. There is no ambiguity regarding the perpetrator or the cause of this aggression.”
He added:
“Romania is a Nato member state and will not accept, in any way, the war of aggression waged by Russia against Ukraine to be transferred on to its citizens.”
The incident also drew immediate and widespread condemnation from top EU leaders, including the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen.
“Russia’s war of aggression has crossed yet another line. A Russian drone incursion struck a densely populated area in Romania, injuring civilians. On EU territory.”
She added that the EU “will keep increasing the pressure on Russia,” and is “preparing a 21st package of sanctions.”
The overnight attack will no doubt dominate the headlines today.
But in other news, we will also follow the new Hungarian prime minister Péter Magyar’s visit to Brussels for crunch talks with the European Commission, and the latest on the May heatwave affecting large parts of Europe.
It’s Friday, 29 May 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
