NATO has said it stands ready to defend “every inch” of allied territory and condemned the “recklessness” of Russia, after a Russian drone struck an apartment block in eastern Romania overnight.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte telephoned Romanian President Nicușor Dan to convey the alliance’s “absolute solidarity” and his thoughts for those injured in the strike, the former Dutch prime minister said in a post on social media.
“NATO stands ready to defend every inch of Allied territory,” Rutte said. “We will continue to enhance our readiness to deter and defend against any threat, including from drones. Russia’s reckless behaviour is a danger to us all.”
He said Moscow was continuing to attack civilians and civilian infrastructure across Ukraine, adding that the strike showed “yet again” that the consequences of the war did not stop at the Ukrainian border.
“Russia’s war needs to end, as does Russia’s disregard for civilian safety,” Rutte said. He said the alliance would keep strengthening its deterrence and defence at home while maintaining its support for Kyiv as it defended itself against Russian aggression.
Earlier, NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart condemned Russia’s “recklessness” and confirmed that Rutte had been in contact with the Romanian authorities. The alliance would continue to bolster its defences against all threats, including drones, she said.
The reaction followed a strike in the early hours of May 29, when a drone hit the roof of a 10-storey apartment building in Galați, near Romania’s border with Ukraine, causing an explosion and a fire. Two people were injured. The country’s defence ministry said the drone, identified as a Russian-made Geran-2, was tracked by radar before it crashed.
Romanian foreign minister Oana Toiu called the incident a serious violation of international law and said the Russian ambassador had been summoned. She said Bucharest had requested faster delivery of anti-drone capabilities.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Russia’s war had “crossed yet another line” and pledged solidarity with Romania.
The strike came days after a Ukrainian drone strayed into the airspace of fellow NATO member state Estonia, while Latvia and Lithuania have issued alerts over possible incursions. Romania said it had recorded 28 breaches of its airspace since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
