Romania closes Russian consulate and expels consul after drone incident

Romanian President Nicușor Dan announced after a meeting of the National Security Council that the Russian consulate general in Constanța will be closed and the Russian consul expelled.

As reported by Digi24, Romania's National Security Council's meeting was held after a Russian drone crashed into an apartment block in the city of Galați, causing an explosion and a fire in an apartment on the ninth floor of the building.

"Last night, a serious incident took place in which two [Romanian] citizens were injured, and Russia bears full responsibility for it. The Russian consul general in Constanța has been declared persona non grata, and the consulate in Constanța will be closed.

We also discussed civil defence at the Supreme Council of National Defence meeting. Last night's response was very swift, and the interior minister informed us about the measures already taken for the entire potentially affected area, increasing the number of personnel and measures. So we are prepared in this regard," Dan said.

Dan also said he discussed the Galați incident with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, describing it as "the most serious security incident to have occurred on Romanian territory since the start of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine". Rutte, for his part, expressed the Alliance's "absolute solidarity" with Romania and confirmed that NATO is "ready to defend every inch of Allied territory".

Romania's acting Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said earlier that, in response to a Russian drone hitting an apartment block in Galați on the night of 28-29 May, official Bucharest is considering sanctions against Russian diplomats.

During Russia's attack on Ukraine on the night of 28-29 May, a drone crashed into a 10-storey residential building in the Romanian city of Galați. Two people were taken to hospital and 70 residents were evacuated. The drone was identified as a Russian Geran-2 type.

Romania's Ministry of Defence said that since the start of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, drone debris has been found on Romanian territory on 47 occasions.

Romania's Foreign Ministry described the crash of a Russian drone into a residential apartment building in Galați as a serious escalation by Moscow.

A spokesperson for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation said that Secretary General Mark Rutte and the Romanian authorities remain in contact following the Russian drone strike on the building in Galați.

Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu stated that the crash of the Russian drone into a residential building in Galați meets the criteria that justify invoking Article 4 of NATO regarding consultations with allies.