BUCHAREST: Romania has expelled the Russian Consul General and ordered the closure of Russia’s consulate in the Black Sea port city of Constanța following a reported drone incident that injured civilians.
According to international reports, the decision came after a Russian drone allegedly struck a residential building, leaving two people injured and triggering a security response from Romanian authorities.
Romania’s President chaired an emergency meeting of the National Security Council, where officials demanded that Russia take full responsibility for the incident and issue a formal apology.
Following the meeting, the Russian Consul General was declared persona non grata and expelled from the country, while the closure of the Constanța consulate was also announced.
The Romanian Ministry of Defence said the drone entered Romanian airspace and crashed into the roof of a ten-storey residential building in the city of Galați, causing a fire.
Authorities said around 70 residents were evacuated, while the injured included a woman and a child with minor injuries.
Romanian Air Force scrambled two F-16 fighter jets and a helicopter in response, but officials said the low-altitude flight made interception difficult without risking further civilian damage.
The Foreign Ministry described the incident as a serious and irresponsible provocation by Russia, saying it violated both Romanian sovereignty and NATO airspace.
Russia’s presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said President Vladimir Putin had been informed of the situation, while the Russian Foreign Ministry indicated it would respond to Romania’s actions.
The Russian state news agency TASS reported that Moscow is considering possible retaliatory steps following the expulsion and consulate closure.
