Romanian President Nicușor Dan said on Friday that the Russian drone that crashed into a residential building in Galați was hit by Ukrainian air defenses over the city of Reni, causing it to veer off course into Romanian territory.
Speaking after visiting the site where the Geran-2 drone struck an apartment building overnight, Dan explained, “When they [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.”
Dan stressed, however, that ultimate responsibility lies with Russia. “Russia is undoubtedly responsible for this situation,” he said, adding that Romania will continue pushing for stronger defenses. “At the next NATO meeting, the issue of the equipment Romania needs will be discussed. Romania is engaged in a long-term effort to continue strengthening its defenses.”
The incident injured two people and marks one of the most serious violations of Romanian airspace since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Romanian military officials noted they were unable to intercept the drone due to extremely limited reaction time and peacetime operational restrictions.
Romania’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador and described the event as a “serious and irresponsible escalation.” Bucharest believes there are grounds to invoke NATO’s Article 4 for consultations and has requested additional allied anti-drone assets to bolster its border defenses. Invoking Article 4 would primarily help Romania secure faster practical military support and amplify diplomatic pressure on Russia, while reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank without escalating to a full collective defense. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has already expressed “absolute solidarity” and pledged to strengthen defenses against drone threats.
Romania’s broader diplomatic response includes the expulsion of a Russian diplomat. Officials continue to monitor the situation closely amid ongoing Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukraine’s Danube port infrastructure, primarily Izmail and Reni in Odessa Oblast, just a few kilometers from the Romanian border. These ports serve as critical alternatives for grain and other exports after the collapse of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, making them strategically important.
