In this photo posted to X Friday by Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister Oana-Silvia Toiu, flames and smoke rise from the rooftop of a 10-story apartment block in Galati, Romania, after a Russian drone hit the building during an overnight attack on neighboring Ukraine, May 29, 2026. Romania, a NATO member shares a 650-kilometer border with Ukraine. (IGSU)
A Russian drone entered NATO ally Romania’s airspace and crashed into a residential building early Friday, injuring two people and prompting broad condemnation of the Kremlin and its ongoing war in Ukraine.
The drone crashed into the roof of an apartment building in Galati during a Russian attack on civilian and infrastructure targets in neighboring Ukraine, Romania’s Defense Ministry said in a statement Friday.
Galati is about 110 miles northwest of Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, an important NATO operations hub that also hosts U.S. forces.
Russian drones have crossed into Romanian territory several times since Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but this incursion appears to be the first in which injuries to civilians were reported.
Emergency crews extinguished a fire caused by the impact and evacuated about 70 residents from the building that was struck, according to the statement. Two people were injured and received medical treatment, it added.
Romanian military radar systems detected aerial targets approaching the country’s airspace overnight, triggering air raid warnings in Tulcea and Galati counties.
Two Romanian air force F-16 fighter jets and an IAR-330 helicopter were deployed to monitor the situation, the ministry said.
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council, appeared to address the drone incident in a post on X.
“Citizens of EU countries, You should realize your authorities have unilaterally entered into a war with Russia. So be vigilant and don’t be surprised by anything. The peaceful sleep is over. But you know who to ask why!” Medvedev said.
European leaders swiftly condemned Russia and warned that the war in Ukraine continues to threaten neighboring countries.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Russia’s “reckless behavior is a danger to us all,” adding that “the implications of their illegal war of aggression don’t stop at the border.”
He said he had spoken with Romanian President Nicusor Dan afterward.
“I assured him of NATO’s absolute solidarity with Romania and expressed sympathy for those injured in the incident,” Rutte wrote on X.
U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker also expressed support for Romania.
“We stand with our NATO Ally Romania and condemn this reckless incursion on its territory,” Whitaker wrote on X Friday. “We will defend every inch of NATO territory.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen criticized Russia for injuring EU civilians and said another set of sanctions against the country is in the works.
Bucharest is discussing the incident with NATO allies and European nations and “has requested measures to accelerate the transfer of anti-drone capabilities to Romania,” according to a statement from Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu.
Romania is not the only NATO member affected by drone activity linked to the war. Similar incidents have been reported in Poland and the Baltic states in recent months, raising concerns about the risk of the conflict spilling across alliance borders.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told Reuters that the latest incident shows the need for continued awareness.
“Regardless of whether it was on purpose or the result of ineptitude, Russia is still dangerous and we must defend ourselves against it,” Sikorski said.
Galati sits across the Danube River from the Ukrainian port city of Izmail, a frequent target of Russian drone attacks. Another Russian drone caused property damage in the Galati area in April, but no injuries were reported.
