British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned a Russian drone strike that crashed into an apartment building in Romania, describing the incident as a “serious violation of Nato airspace” and warning that Moscow’s aggression continues to threaten European security.
The drone struck the roof of a residential block in the city of Galati on Thursday night, close to Romania’s border with Ukraine, as Russia reportedly launched another wave of attacks targeting Ukrainian infrastructure. The impact sparked a fire on the tenth floor of the building, injured two civilians and forced the evacuation of residents.
In a statement, Starmer said Russia’s attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure demonstrated a disregard for international law and the sovereignty of neighboring countries. He stressed that such actions could not be allowed to go unanswered.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper also condemned the incident, calling it “extremely dangerous and reckless.” She said she had spoken with Romanian Foreign Minister Oana-Silvia Toiu and reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to defending every inch of Nato territory.
The incident has drawn strong reactions across the alliance. Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte said the strike highlighted how the consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine continue to spill beyond Ukraine’s borders. He reiterated Nato’s readiness to protect allied territory.
Romanian President Nicusor Dan called for a coordinated response from allies and announced that Romania would seek additional anti-drone capabilities to strengthen its defenses. According to reports, two Romanian F-16 fighter jets were scrambled after the drone entered Romanian airspace, but officials determined that shooting it down could pose an even greater risk to civilians on the ground.
Romania’s Defense Ministry said the drone was tracked by radar before crashing into the residential building. Authorities confirmed that this is the first known case since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in which civilians inside Romania, a Nato member state, have been injured by a Russian drone incident.
The attack has also prompted a response from Ursula von der Leyen, who said Russia had “crossed yet another line.” She indicated that the European Union was preparing additional sanctions against Moscow while continuing efforts to strengthen security along its eastern border.
Romania’s Foreign Ministry described the strike as a “grave and irresponsible escalation” and a serious breach of international law. Officials have requested that Nato accelerate the deployment of anti-drone systems and related defensive capabilities to the country.
The incident is likely to intensify concerns among Nato members about the growing risks posed by Russia’s continuing military campaign in Ukraine and the possibility of future violations of allied airspace.