Russian drone strikes residential building in Romania – Two injured and international condemnation

Galați – 29.05.2026: On Friday night a significant incident occurred in the south-eastern Romanian city of Galați. A Russian drone, which had violated Romanian airspace during an attack on Ukraine, crashed onto the roof of a ten-story residential building. The impact caused an explosion and a fire on the top floor of the building. Two residents, a 51-year-old woman and a 14-year-old boy, suffered minor injuries and were treated on site. The other residents were able to leave the building in time, avoiding further injuries.

The Romanian Minister of Defence stated that the drone entered Romanian airspace during a Russian attack against civilian and infrastructure targets in Ukraine, near the border with Romania. The military deployed two F-16 fighters and a helicopter for monitoring. The decision not to shoot down the drone was made to avoid risks to the population.

The Romanian Foreign Ministry condemned the incident, calling it a “serious and irresponsible escalation” by Russia. Romania informed its allies and the NATO Secretary General of the situation, requesting a strengthening of air defence. In addition, the Russian ambassador was summoned to express the government’s concern.

NATO and the European Union responded with harsh criticism, calling the attack a serious violation of European airspace. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, warned that Russia had “crossed another red line.” The incident increases concerns about the growing threat posed by Russian drone attacks in the region.

Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022, 47 drone fragments had been found on Romanian territory, but this is the first attack in which a Russian drone directly hit a residential building, injuring civilians. Romanian authorities announced a tightening of security measures and an intensification of cooperation with international partners to prevent similar events in the future.

Experts consider this episode a challenge for NATO, as it highlights the importance of effective air defence against asymmetric threats. A thorough investigation has been launched to understand how the drone was able to enter the airspace and what the vulnerabilities are. The findings will form the basis for further protective measures.

The international community is called upon to respond appropriately to such incidents without compromising the safety of the civilian population. The events in Galați underline how crucial cooperation among NATO member states is to ensure regional stability and prevent escalation.