Romanian authorities said 200 people were evacuated while two British fighters jets scrambled after a drone landed in the southeastern city of Galati, near the country’s border with Ukraine.
It is not the first time that Romania, which is a NATO as well as EU member, has seen it airspace violated and drone fragments fall on its territory after Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Romanian President Nicușor Dan said that this, however, “is the first incident where Romanian property has actually been damaged, a threshold we take very seriously.” The country’s foreign minster summoned the Russian ambassador over the incident.
No casualties were reported as a result of the incident, which the country’s defence ministry said occured in “a populated area”. An electricity pole and a house outbuilding were damaged, while gas supplies were cut as a precautionary measure.
Two British Royal Air Force fighter jets stationed at a military base in Borcea as part of a NATO force scrambled after the drone landed, the defence ministry said.
The British defence ministry denied reports that they shot down Russian drones.
Additional sources • AFP