Romania Confirms Russian Explosive Drone Hit Galați, Expels 1 Consul as Putin Disputes Blame
Updated
Updated · Euronews · May 29
Romania Confirms Russian Explosive Drone Hit Galați, Expels 1 Consul as Putin Disputes Blame
25 articles · Updated · Euronews · May 29
Romania said ground teams have now definitively identified the Galați aircraft as a Russian drone carrying explosives after it crashed into a residential block and set the roof on fire.
Foreign Minister Oana Toiu said Moscow bears full responsibility for putting civilians at risk, and President Nicușor Dan responded by declaring Russia's consul in Constanta persona non grata and closing the consulate there.
Vladimir Putin challenged Bucharest's account, saying the drone could have been Ukrainian and asking for access to the wreckage, while Russia's Foreign Ministry called the consulate closure unjustified and promised a response.
EU and NATO leaders backed Romania, with Ursula von der Leyen saying Russia had crossed another line and linking the incident to work on a 21st sanctions package as NATO pledged stronger defenses against drone threats.
The crash deepens tensions between Moscow and NATO after repeated Russian drone incursions into Romanian airspace, including 28 officially recorded violations since 2022.
Now that major arms treaties have collapsed, are drone strikes on NATO cities the new normal?
With Russia's cheap drones met by million-dollar jets, is NATO's defense strategy sustainable?