Romania said on Friday that a drone injured two people in the city of Galati during an overnight Russian attack on Ukraine. This marks the first time in the war that a drone hit a densely populated region in Romania, which shares a 650 km land border with Ukraine, and caused injuries.
Romanian authorities said the drone hit the roof of a 10-storey block of flats in the city and caused an explosion.
Romania’s emergency response agency reported that a fire broke out in a 10th-floor apartment after the drone struck the building’s roof and exploded. It said 70 people were evacuated, with two receiving medical treatment on site.
State news agency Agerpres quoted the response agency, which said a woman and her child were taken to a hospital with minor injuries wheares two others were treated on site for panic attacks.
The country’s Defence Ministry accused Russia of breaching its airspace 28 times since it began attacking Ukraine’s ports across the Danube river. The ministry also said it had recovered drone fragments that fell in Romania 47 times.
Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu wrote on X, “Romania will take the necessary diplomatic measures in response to this serious violation of international law and its airspace.”
She further added, “Romania has informed the Allies and the NATO Secretary General of the circumstances and has requested measures to accelerate the transfer of anti-drone capabilities to Romania.”
The Defence Ministry said it deployed two F-16 fighter jets and a military helicopter to monitor the attack, authorising the pilots to shoot down drones. The ministry also sent warnings to the residents of border counties Braila, Galati, and Tucea.
Romanian law contains a provision to shoot down drones during peacetime if lives or property are at risk.
A drone had previously hit Galati in April, damaging an electricity and a household annex. Officials retrieved the drone and detonated its unexploded payload remotely.
