Russian Drone Hits Romanian Apartment Block Near Ukraine Border

A Russian drone struck a residential apartment building in eastern Romania on Friday, injuring two people and triggering strong condemnation from both NATO and the European Union.

The incident happened in the border city of Galați near Ukraine, marking the first time civilians in Romania have been injured by a drone linked to Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Romanian authorities said the drone’s explosive payload detonated after impact, sparking a fire on the 10th floor of the apartment block. Around 70 residents were evacuated while emergency crews extinguished the blaze.

Two people suffered minor injuries and were transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Romania says drone likely altered by Ukrainian defenses

Romanian President Nicușor Dan said the drone was likely struck by Ukrainian air defenses while still over Ukrainian territory, causing it to veer off course toward Romania.

According to Romanian officials, the drone was part of a larger wave of 43 drones launched from the east during overnight attacks targeting Ukrainian infrastructure near the Danube River ports.

Romania’s Defense Ministry said two F-16 fighter jets were scrambled after the drones were detected, but military officials had only four minutes between detection and impact.

Authorities identified the drone as a Geran-2, also known as the Shahed-136, an Iranian-designed attack drone widely used by Russia during the war.

NATO and EU condemn Russia

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance “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,” Rutte stated after speaking with President Dan.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Russia’s actions had “crossed yet another line.”

“As we continue strengthening our security and deterrence, especially on our Eastern border, we will keep increasing the pressure on Russia,” she wrote on social media.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the incident a “serious violation” of NATO airspace.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the strike demonstrated that Russian aggression remains “a real threat” to Europe and the wider Black Sea region.

Romania seeks stronger anti-drone defenses

Romania’s foreign ministry announced it has requested accelerated deployment of additional anti-drone systems from NATO allies following the attack.

The country’s Supreme Defence Council also held an emergency meeting Friday, with President Dan describing the strike as the “most serious incident” affecting Romanian territory since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Romania has repeatedly experienced drone incursions during the conflict because of its proximity to Ukrainian ports such as Reni and Izmail along the Danube River.

According to Romania’s Defense Ministry, drone fragments have been discovered on Romanian territory 47 times since the war began, including 12 incidents this year alone.

Putin questions drone origin

Russian President Vladimir Putin later questioned whether the drone involved was actually Russian and suggested that the wreckage should be handed over to Moscow for an “objective investigation.”

He also referenced previous cases in which Ukrainian drones crossed into European Union territory after being diverted or jammed.

Despite those comments, Romanian officials maintained that the drone was linked to ongoing Russian operations targeting Ukrainian infrastructure near the border.

The incident has renewed concerns among NATO members about the growing risk of the Ukraine war spilling into alliance territory as drone warfare intensifies across Eastern Europe.