Romanian President Nicusor Dan has urgently convened the Supreme Council of National Defense after a drone hit a residential building in Galati. The serious incident was also condemned by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, who announced that Romania has informed allied states and partners, IPN reports.
The CSAT was convened on Friday, at 11:00 AM. The President of Romania stated that the full responsibility belongs to the Russian Federation. At the same time, the head of state announced that he would notify the UN Security Council regarding the violation of international law and that he had requested NATO allies to transfer additional anti-drone capabilities to Romanian territory. President Dan emphasized that he would order proportionate measures regarding the Russian Federation.
Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said the situation was unacceptable and a consequence of Russia’s war in Ukraine, which directly affects the security of Romania and the eastern flank. The prime minister said the defense response was limited by the current level of equipment and stressed the critical importance of the European Union’s SAFE program.
The incident occurred last night, when a Russian Geran-2 drone, according to the Romanian Ministry of National Defense, hit a ten-story apartment building in the city of Galati. The impact was followed by an explosion and a fire in an apartment located on the top floor, resulting in the injury of two people and the evacuation of the 70 residents. Shortly before the explosion, the authorities issued an RO-Alert message for the counties of Galați, Tulcea and Braila regarding the violation of airspace by drones.
Although two F-16 military aircraft took off from the 86th Air Base in Fetesti with authorization to engage targets, the drone was not shot down. Representatives of the Ministry of Defense explained that the pilots did not have enough time and that there was a risk of causing greater damage in populated areas if the drone was destroyed.
