An inquiry has determined that a Russian drone was responsible for an attack on a residential building in Romania.
Romanian President Nicusor Dan revealed the results of an investigation into a drone striking an apartment building in Galați. According to a technical report by specialist investigators, the crashed drone was identified as a Geran-2 drone of Russian origin, despite Russian President Vladimir Putin’s denial.
The incident occurred when a drone collided with a block of flats in Galati, located in eastern Romania near the Ukrainian border, amidst ongoing Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.
Various components of the drone, such as electrical parts, control modules, and the engine, were scrutinized and compared to other Geran-2 drones previously involved in crashes on Romanian soil.
President Dan emphasized the conclusive nature of the technical report, stating that the drone was tracked by radar in Romanian airspace before crashing onto a building in Galati, causing a fire. Subsequently, two individuals sustained minor injuries, and several residents were evacuated.
Acknowledging the severity of the situation, Sir Keir Starmer labeled the incident as a “serious violation of NATO airspace.” He highlighted that the investigation’s findings aligned with the manufacturing characteristics and materials typically found in Geran-2 drones of Russian origin.
President Dan underscored the gravity of the event, holding the Kremlin solely accountable. He pledged to share the investigation results with NATO allies and European Union members, reaffirming Romania’s commitment to enhancing security at the eastern border and safeguarding its citizens.
NATO had previously confirmed the Russian origin of the drone, with Secretary-General Mark Rutte emphasizing the broader implications of Russia’s aggressive actions.
In response, Romania proposed implementing proportional measures and sought additional anti-drone capabilities from its allies. Despite dispatching F-16 fighter jets to intercept the drone, they refrained from engagement to avoid endangering civilians further.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned Russia’s actions, indicating that the bloc would impose further sanctions on Moscow. She emphasized the need to fortify security along the eastern border and intensify pressure on Russia.
As tensions escalate, Russia’s utilization of long-range weapons to target Ukraine’s infrastructure has raised concerns about potential future attacks. While Putin disputed Romania’s conclusions, calling for objective evidence to be presented, the fallout from the incident continues to reverberate on the international stage.
