Russian drone hits Romanian apartment building near Ukraine border, oficials say
Two people were injured and taken to the hospital, officials said.
A Russian drone hit a Romanian residential apartment building overnight in the eastern town of Galati close to Romania's border with Ukraine, injuring two people, officials said.
Romania’s Ministry of National Defense said Friday morning that investigations are continuing following the incident, adding that the Ministry "firmly condemns the irresponsible actions of the Russian Federation.” These incidents, it says, "demonstrate the Russian Federation's lack of respect for the norms of international law.”
Russia has not yet commented directly on Romania's accusations but Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry told Russian news agency TASS that "the hype around the drone in Romania is needed by Westerners in order to divert attention from Zelensky's murder of children in Starobilsk, which was committed with EU money and with EU support."
The president of Romania said on social media Friday morning that the drone strike is "the most serious incident to affect the national territory” since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, and that it demands “a firm, coordinated and appropriate response.”
Meanwhile, Toiu Oana from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Romania, called the incident "a serious and irresponsible escalation by the Russian Federation."
"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," Mark Rutte, Secretary General of NATO, said on X. "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."
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Union, echoed Rutte's sentiments on social media, saying that "Russia’s war of aggression has crossed yet another line” and that she stands “in full solidarity” with Romania and its people.
“Initial information indicates that the entire load of the Geran 2 drone, of Russian origin, exploded upon impact,” according to Romania’s Ministry of National Defense. “The two people who were injured were transported to the Galați County Emergency Clinical Hospital.”
“The Ministry of National Defense firmly condemns the irresponsible actions of the Russian Federation and emphasizes that they represent a new challenge to regional security and stability in the Black Sea area,” Romanian defense officials continued. “[They] endanger not only the safety of Romanian citizens, but also the collective security of NATO.”