It was two o’clock in the morning when the explosion hit — a Russian drone smashing into the tenth floor of an apartment block in the Romanian town of Galati, just 11 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. Romania scrambled two F-16 fighter jets and a military helicopter, while emergency alerts were sent to residents across the affected region. Two people were injured and the apartment building was swiftly evacuated. The incident has sparked condemnation across NATO capitals and raised fresh concerns about the growing risks along the alliance’s eastern flank.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that “Putin has crossed another line,” while NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte described the strike as “reckless behaviour” and “a danger to us all.”
Romania’s interim Chief of Defence Staff, General Gheorghe Maxim, said the drone strike in Galati was not “an attack from Russia against Romania,” but warned that “Romanians should understand that Russia is a threat to the security of the countries in the area.”
Romanian President Nicusor Dan also reacted strongly to the incident, as pressure mounts on NATO to respond to an increasingly volatile security situation near its borders.
To discuss more, FRANCE 24’s Gavin Lee is joined by Romania’s Foreign Minister.
Produced by Gavin Lee, Théophille Vareille, Emmanuel Miculita, Guillaume Gougeon and Alessandro Xenos
.png?w=600)
