GALATI, Romania – A drone struck an apartment building in the Romanian city of Galati early Friday morning, injuring two people and prompting sharp condemnation from NATO and the European Union, which blamed Russia for the attack.

The incident marks the first time a residential building has been hit in a NATO member country since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, with Romania describing it as a “serious and irresponsible escalation” by Moscow.

A boy (14) and a woman (53) were hospitalised with injuries after the drone crashed into the roof of the apartment block in the centre of Galati, sparking a fire. The city lies close to Romania’s border with Ukraine.

“During the night of May 28-29, the Russian Federation resumed drone attacks on civilian and infrastructure targets in Ukraine, near the river border with Romania,” the Romanian defence ministry said. “One of these drones entered Romanian airspace, was tracked by radar as far as the southern part of the city of Galati, and crashed onto the roof of an apartment building.”

Four-minute window to intercept

Two F-16 fighter jets were scrambled after the drones were detected in Romanian airspace, but military officials said there was insufficient time to safely intercept the aircraft before impact.

General Gheorghe Maxim from the Joint Forces Command told a press conference that Romanian forces had “no realistic opportunities to engage it safely” during the four minutes available. Romanian President Nicusor Dan said the decision not to engage was made to avoid “significantly endangering the safety of the civilian population”.

Bucharest summons Russian ambassador

Romania summoned the Russian ambassador following the incident, whilst Dan convened a national defence council meeting to discuss what he called “the most serious incident to have affected our national territory” since the invasion of Ukraine.

The Romanian defence ministry said Bucharest had “requested measures to accelerate the transfer of anti-drone capabilities to Romania”.

International condemnation mounts

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Russia’s “war of aggression” had “crossed yet another line”, pledging to increase deterrence on the EU’s eastern border.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul condemned “Russia’s reckless behaviour”, whilst French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot called it “an irresponsible act”. British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper strongly criticised the “violation” of NATO airspace.

The US ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, slammed the “reckless incursion”, saying: “We stand with our NATO ally.”

NATO chief Mark Rutte wrote on social media after a call with the Romanian president: “Russia’s reckless behaviour is a danger to us all. I affirmed that NATO stands ready to defend every inch of allied territory.”

Alliance considers response options

Drone incursions in Romania have been detected dozens of times since the start of the Russian offensive, but this marks the first time a residential building has been struck in the country.

NATO member states bordering Ukraine or Russia, including Romania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland, are increasingly exposed to incursions into their territory by drones from both warring sides.

Latvia, which borders Russia, appointed a new government on Thursday, two weeks after the collapse of the previous administration due to a row over stray Ukrainian drone incursions, which exposed weaknesses in the country’s air defences.

NATO’s top commander, US General Alexus Grynkewich, spoke to Romania’s military chief about the incident. The alliance’s supreme headquarters said they “agreed to stay in particularly close contact with one another as an investigation of the incident continues, and potential additional defensive measures are considered”.

Multiple sources at NATO said there was no indication whether Bucharest would call for emergency consultations under the alliance’s Article Four, which allows members to request talks when their security is threatened.

Such a move would still fall short of triggering NATO’s Article Five mutual defence clause, which has been invoked only once in the alliance’s 77-year history, following the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

Article Four consultations have been called three times during Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine: immediately after the invasion in 2022, once by Poland after drone incursions, and once by Estonia after Russian fighter jets violated its airspace.

Maia Sandu, the president of Moldova, which lies between Romania and Ukraine and has also experienced repeated drone incursions and falling debris, said Russia was a “danger to all”.

The incident follows a series of Russian strikes on Ukraine on Saturday in one of the most severe attacks since the start of the war.

ALSO READ: Where do Ukraine and Russia stand after four years of war?