EditRomanian President: Russian drone struck Galați after being hit by Ukrainian air defences
Nicușor Dan’s statement illustrates Romania’s position that this was not a deliberate Russian attack on NATO territory
Romanian President Nicușor Dan on Friday offered an explanation for the Russian drone strike on a residential building in Galați, stating unequivocally that the Geran-2 (Shahed-136) drone changed its trajectory and entered Romanian airspace only after being damaged by Ukrainian air defences over the Ukrainian city of Reni.
“While the drones were flying over Ukrainian territory, some of them were shot down, and one of them – apparently brought down over the city of Reni – changed its trajectory and headed towards Galați,” President Dan said, citing radar data and the known flight path of the Russian swarm.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday when the drone, part of a large overnight Russian attack involving 43 drones targeting Ukrainian Danube ports, crashed into a 10-storey apartment building. Two civilians were injured – a woman with burns and a 14-year-old boy suffering a stress reaction – and around 70 residents were evacuated.
Clear accidental nature emphasised by Bucharest
President Dan’s statement, delivered after visiting the victims in Galați, strongly reinforces Romania’s position that this was not a deliberate Russian attack on NATO territory. The drone was tracked on Romanian radar for only about four minutes before impact. Romanian F-16s were scrambled, but pilots did not engage due to insufficient time and peacetime rules of engagement.
Dan has repeatedly stressed that full responsibility lies with Russia for launching the massive drone barrage so close to the Romanian border. “For this situation, Russia is undoubtedly responsible,” he declared, while announcing continued diplomatic pressure on allies for enhanced anti-drone equipment.
Romania’s Foreign Ministry has formally requested NATO allies and Secretary General Mark Rutte to accelerate the transfer of counter-drone capabilities following the Galați incident, openly acknowledging that the country – like many of its NATO partners – remains inadequately equipped to counter the growing threat of low-cost, massed drone attacks.
Moscow’s denial and threats
Russia continues to deny ownership of the drone. President Vladimir Putin questioned its Russian origin and demanded access to the wreckage for “objective investigation.” In typical provocative style, Dmitry Medvedev declared: “Shut your mouths. This is only the beginning!”
Allied solidarity without escalation
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte condemned Russia’s “reckless behaviour” and reaffirmed the Alliance’s commitment to defend every inch of its territory. EU leaders expressed similar solidarity. However, neither NATO nor the EU has moved toward invoking Article 4 consultations, reflecting the incident’s confirmed accidental character.
Romania has summoned the Russian ambassador, described the event as a “serious and irresponsible escalation,” and is accelerating requests for additional air defence assets from partners.
Following the incident Romania has declared the Russian Consul General in Constanța persona non grata and ordered the closure of Russia’s consulate in the Black Sea port city, prompting Moscow to vow a symmetrical response.
Persistent risks on the Danube frontier
Galați sits directly across the Danube from Ukrainian ports such as Reni and Izmail – frequent targets of Russian strikes. This proximity has led to repeated airspace violations and debris recoveries since 2022, though previous incidents caused no civilian injuries on Romanian soil.
The latest event underscores the growing dangers of spillover from Russia’s intensified drone and missile campaign against Ukrainian infrastructure near the border. President Dan has used the incident to push harder for NATO-level solutions, including better-integrated drone countermeasures and cross-border coordination with Ukraine.
While the president’s clear explanation helps de-escalate immediate fears of intentional provocation, the physical damage and injuries in Galați have heightened public anxiety in Romania. The episode serves as another warning that, even in “accidental” form, the war’s shadow continues to lengthen across NATO’s south-eastern flank.
With European Pravda and Espress.ro
Caption: Romanian President Nicusor Dan (C), assisted by Defense Minister Radu Miruta (C-R) and Interior Minister Catalin Predoiu (C-L), attends a press conference following his visit to the site of a Russian drone crash into a residential building in Galati city, Romania, 29 May 2026. EPA/ROBERT GHEMENT
Updated: May 30, 2026 - 06:50
