NATO member states have strongly condemned Russia after a Russian drone crashed into a residential apartment building in Romania, injuring two civilians and triggering renewed fears that Moscow’s war in Ukraine could spill deeper into NATO territory.
The incident occurred overnight in the southeastern Romanian city of Galați, close to the Ukrainian border, during a large-scale Russian drone attack targeting Ukrainian port infrastructure along the Danube River. Romanian authorities said a Russian-made Geran-2 drone entered Romanian airspace and slammed into a 10-storey apartment block, causing an explosion and fire that forced the evacuation of about 70 residents.
Romania’s Defence Ministry said two people were injured, marking the first time since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that civilians have been hurt by a Russian drone strike on Romanian territory. Emergency crews extinguished the fire while police cordoned off the area and bomb disposal teams searched for unexploded fragments.
Romanian President Nicușor Dan condemned the incident as a “serious violation of international law” and said Moscow bore full responsibility for breaching Romanian sovereignty and NATO airspace. Romania’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador and informed NATO allies of the situation, while requesting accelerated deployment of anti-drone defence systems.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte expressed “absolute solidarity” with Romania and said the alliance remained fully prepared to defend all member states against any threat. NATO officials described the drone incident as another example of Russia’s “irresponsible escalation” near the alliance’s eastern flank.
European Union leaders also condemned the incident. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Russia had “crossed yet another line” by allowing military drones to enter NATO territory and endanger civilians.
Romanian military officials disclosed that radar tracked the drone for several minutes after it crossed the border from Ukraine into Romanian airspace. Romanian F-16 fighter jets and a military helicopter were scrambled with authorization to engage hostile drones if necessary, but the aircraft struck the apartment building before interception could occur. Officials said the drone’s low altitude and the dense urban environment complicated response efforts.
The crash happened during one of Russia’s largest recent drone assaults on southern Ukraine, particularly around the port city of Izmail across the Danube from Romania. Ukrainian authorities reported intercepting hundreds of Russian drones overnight, while air raid alerts sounded across several regions.
The latest incident is part of a growing pattern of drone incursions affecting NATO countries bordering Ukraine and Russia. Romania has reported at least 28 airspace violations since Russia intensified strikes near the Danube corridor, while Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Finland, and Croatia have all experienced drone-related incidents linked to the war.
Security analysts say the repeated incursions are increasing pressure on NATO to strengthen air defence coordination along its eastern frontier. Since 2025, NATO has expanded regional operations under “Operation Eastern Sentry,” aimed at improving interception capabilities against drones and missile threats near alliance borders.
Despite the growing tensions, NATO officials emphasized that there is currently no indication the drone strike was a deliberate attack on Romania itself. However, diplomats warned that repeated incidents carry significant risks of escalation and accidental confrontation between Russia and NATO forces.
Russia has not officially commented on the latest Romanian incident. Moscow has previously dismissed accusations over stray drones entering NATO countries, insisting that its attacks are directed solely at military and infrastructure targets inside Ukraine.
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