Russian drone strikes Romania, prompting fierce criticism across Europe

Romania on Friday said a Russian drone carrying explosives crashed in the eastern city of Galați, causing a fire on the roof of a residential apartment block.

The building was evacuated and two people were injured, Oana Toiu, Romania’s foreign minister, said.

“Two aircraft and a helicopter belonging to the Romanian Air Force were scrambled when Russian drones appeared on the radar, they had permission to shoot,” Toiu said in a statement posted to social media, adding that it was “a serious and irresponsible escalation” by Moscow.

Romanian defence minister Radu Miruță identified the drone as a Geran-2, the Russian version of the Iranian-designed Shahed-136 drone, Euronews Romania reports.

It was detected by radars and flew in Romanian airspace for around four minutes, Miruță said, adding that the explosives on board the drone detonated when it hit the building. Authorities are now working to recover debris from the crash.

An investigation is currently ongoing at the scene, and the perimeter has been secured, although residents have not yet been allowed to return home.

Read more: Euronews