NATO States Condemn Russia Following Drone Incident in Romania

Romania Reports Drone Crash into Apartment Building, Injuring Two People

A Russian drone crashed into an apartment building in eastern Romania on Friday, injuring two people. The incident occurred during an overnight attack aimed at Ukraine and was tracked by radar in Romanian airspace before crashing onto the roof of a residential building in Galati.

Two F-16 fighter jets and a helicopter were scrambled as authorities issued emergency alerts to residents. Two people suffered minor injuries, and several residents were evacuated after a fire was triggered by the crash.

Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the incident as a serious violation of international law. The country has summoned the Russian ambassador and called for NATO to speed up the transfer of anti-drone capabilities.

Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland, and other NATO countries have reported repeated incursions into their airspace in recent months. A government collapse was reported in Latvia earlier this month due to drone incursions.

Romanian officials have pledged to strengthen protection from such threats and have signed a contract with the European Union’s SAFE programme to receive anti-drone defences. The incident has sparked anger among NATO allies, including France and Poland, who have condemned Russia’s actions as reckless.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has pledged support for Romania, branding Russia a threat to the Black Sea region and the wider European continent. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that escalating attacks risk spiralling “out of control”, calling for diplomacy, immediate de-escalation, and a full and unconditional ceasefire.

The incident is part of a series of incidents along NATO’s eastern flank, raising concerns about potential escalation.

Source: Al Jazeera