Russian Drone Strikes Apartment Building in Romania
Russian drone attack Romania Galati
A Russian combat drone struck a 10-story residential apartment building in the southeastern Romanian city of Galati during the early hours of Friday, May 29, 2026. The incident, which occurred during a broader wave of Russian drone attacks targeting infrastructure in neighboring Ukraine, marks the first time a stray drone has hit a densely populated area within Romanian territory and resulted in civilian injuries. Romanian authorities confirmed that two people sustained minor injuries and were treated at the Galați County Emergency Clinical Hospital, while approximately 70 residents were evacuated from the building as emergency crews worked to extinguish a fire sparked by the explosion.
The Romanian Ministry of National Defense reported that the drone, identified as a Geran-2 type, entered national airspace overnight while targeting Ukrainian port facilities along the Danube River. Radar systems tracked the unmanned aerial vehicle as it traveled toward the southern part of the city of Galati before it impacted the roof of the residential block, triggering the full detonation of its explosive payload. In response to the breach, the Romanian Air Force scrambled two F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets and an IAR 330 SOCAT helicopter to monitor the area and secure the airspace.
The government in Bucharest has officially condemned the strike, characterizing it as a “serious and irresponsible escalation” by the Russian Federation. Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu announced that the Russian ambassador has been summoned, and the administration has formally notified NATO and European Union partners regarding the security breach. Romania has subsequently requested an expedited transfer of advanced anti-drone defense systems to bolster its eastern flank, citing the increasing frequency of incursions that have occurred throughout the ongoing conflict.
This incident follows dozens of recorded drone fragments falling into Romanian territory since 2022, but the severity of the damage and the injuries sustained have heightened tensions across NATO’s eastern frontier. NATO officials issued a statement via social media condemning the “recklessness” of the attack and reiterated their commitment to strengthening collective defenses against future airborne threats. As the investigation into the strike continues, the Romanian Ministry of Defense and local emergency services remain on high alert, urging residents in border counties to monitor government air raid notifications closely.
