Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has urged NATO allies to take seriously a fresh warning from a senior Russian official that drones will keep entering European airspace, after a Russian drone crashed into an apartment building in Romania.
"Poland, the Baltic states, and now Romania. Russian provocations are growing ever more frequent," Tusk wrote on 30 May on the social platform X, adding that all NATO members should "finally start taking these facts and words seriously."
He was responding to remarks by Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, who warned, according to Reuters, that "wandering" drones would continue to fly into European territory and that EU citizens, as residents of "warring countries," would no longer sleep peacefully. "Let them get ready: this will continue. There is a war on," Medvedev said.
Moscow's threats and disputed origin
Medvedev claimed it was still unclear which country the drone that struck Romania belonged to, while telling EU leaders to drop their indignation because their states were "directly involved in the war against Russia." He suggested such incidents could recur near sites in Europe where drones are produced for Ukraine — echoing an April move in which Russia's Defense Ministry published purported addresses of plants it called "potential targets."
Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking to reporters in Kazakhstan, said he had "just heard" about the Romanian incident and that its origin could not be established "without an examination," suggesting the drone may prove to be Ukrainian. The first reaction to such drones, he said, is "always panic," before they turn out to be Ukrainian.
Romanian authorities reject that account. President Nicușor Dan said a Russian "Geran-2" drone hit the building in Galați, declared Russia's consul general in Constanța persona non grata, and ordered the consulate closed, calling it the most serious incident on Romanian soil since the start of Russia's war on Ukraine. Dan convened the Supreme Council of National Defence, discussed the strike with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and notified the UN Security Council.
The Galați strike
The drone struck overnight on 28-29 May amid a Russian assault on Ukraine's Odesa Oblast, with one UAV crossing into Romania and slamming into a 10-story residential block in Galați, the country's Defense Ministry reported. It caused minor injuries to 2 people and forced about 70 residents to evacuate. Fighter jets on patrol over the country had clearance to act but did not down the drone. Prosecutors in Galați have since opened a criminal investigation, with one line of inquiry treating the impact as attempted aggravated murder.
Romanian Foreign Minister Oana-Silvia Țoiu called the drone Russian, summoned Moscow's ambassador in Bucharest, and said Russia bore "direct responsibility" for what she described as a serious and irresponsible breach of international law and Romanian airspace. Bucharest briefed EU and NATO partners and asked them to speed up the transfer of anti-drone capabilities. Romania's Defense Ministry says drone debris has been recovered on its territory on 47 occasions since Russia launched its full-scale war on Ukraine in 2022.
Allies rally behind Bucharest
NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart condemned what she called Russia's recklessness, saying the alliance was in contact with Romanian authorities and would keep strengthening its defenses against all threats, including drones. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Russia had "crossed yet another line," pledged solidarity with Romania, and noted a 21st sanctions package in preparation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said the drone formed part of the assault on Odesa Oblast, called for tougher measures against Moscow.
The episode adds to a run of incursions across the alliance's eastern flank that Estonia has attributed to deliberate Russian redirection of drones launched at Ukraine.
