Romanian air defense radar detected an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) entering its airspace during Russian attacks on Ukraine on the night of 28/5 and early morning of 29/5.

The Romanian military deployed two F-16 fighter jets and one helicopter for monitoring, with pilots authorized to engage. However, they could not prevent the UAV from crashing onto the roof of an apartment building in the southern border city of Galati. The incident injured two people and necessitated the evacuation of 70 residents.

Emergency services at the scene where the roof of an apartment building in Galati, eastern Romania, was damaged after being hit by a UAV. Photo: AFP

Emergency services at the scene where the roof of an apartment building in Galati, eastern Romania, was damaged after being hit by a UAV. Photo: AFP

General Gheorghe Maxim of the Romanian Joint Command explained at a press conference today that the decision not to fire was due to extreme time constraints. "We only had 4 minutes. This timeframe was extremely short," he stated when asked why the fighter jets did not engage the UAV.

President Nicusor Dan added that the F-16s did not engage because "there were insufficient conditions to destroy the UAV without significant danger to civilians."

Romania summoned Russia's ambassador to protest the incident. President Dan also convened a National Defense Council meeting to discuss what he termed the "most serious incident affecting national territory" since Russia launched its operation in Ukraine in 2/2022. While Romania has previously detected UAV incursions, this marks the first time an apartment building has been hit.

The Romanian Ministry of Defense assessed the incident as a "serious and irresponsible escalation from Russia." Romania has requested its Western allies to expedite the transfer of anti-UAV systems.

A suspected Russian UAV crashed into a building in Romania in a video posted on 29/5. Video: X/AMK Mapping

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen commented that the event showed "Russia's war has crossed another line," expressing the European Union's solidarity with Romania and its people. She also pledged to strengthen deterrence capabilities on the EU's eastern flank and continue increasing pressure on Russia.

NATO condemned Russia's "recklessness," declaring "absolute solidarity" with Romania. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot described the UAV crash on a NATO member's territory as an "irresponsible act." US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker condemned the incident, affirming that the alliance "will defend every inch of NATO territory."

Russia has not commented on the incident.

Location of Galati and Ukraine. Graphic: Mapoffindia

Location of Galati and Ukraine. Graphic: Mapoffindia

Beyond Romania, other NATO member states bordering Russia or Ukraine, including Latvia, Estonia, and Poland, are increasingly witnessing incidents of UAVs from either Kiev or Moskva entering their airspace.

On 19/5, a NATO F-16 shot down a Ukrainian UAV over Estonian airspace. Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs apologized to Estonia, attributing the UAV's diversion towards the Baltic states to Russian electronic warfare measures.

Huyen Le (According to AFP, Reuters)