Russian Drone Strike Hits Galati Apartment Block, Injuring Two Romanians
A Russian attack drone impacted an apartment block in Galati, Romania, early on Friday, injuring a woman and her teenage son, who remain hospitalised with minor burns and bruises. The strike, which caused a fire and structural damage to the building's roof and an eleventh-floor flat, has intensified fears among residents in the NATO and EU member state, which shares a border with Ukraine.
The drone, identified by Romanian President Nicosur Dan as a Russian Geran-2 (Shahed) model, was reportedly part of a swarm of 43 drones targeting Ukrainian port facilities on the Danube. Dan stated that one drone, diverted by Ukrainian defences, entered Romanian territory. This incident is the most serious of its kind in Romania since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine commenced in 2022.
Residents, such as Costel Patrichi, the building's manager, expressed frustration over the perceived lack of interception, despite Romania's NATO membership. Patrichi recounted receiving an alert moments before the drone hit, stating, "They told us we are protected by Nato, not to worry. But look where we are now!"
While NATO allies have condemned Russia's actions as "reckless," there is no accusation of a deliberate attack on Romania. Bucharest considered, but ultimately rejected, invoking Article 4 of the NATO treaty to avoid creating panic. Article 5, the mutual defence clause, remains off the table.
In response, Romania has closed a Russian consulate in Constanta as a "warning," with President Dan indicating that expelling the Russian ambassador would be the next diplomatic step. Bucharest has also urged NATO to expedite military equipment transfers to its eastern border and is developing its own drone capabilities in collaboration with Ukrainian firms. However, for residents of Galati, who feel increasingly vulnerable, the measures taken are seen as insufficient. Adrian, a resident, remarked after inspecting his family's flat, "No-one feels safe now."
