Arabic version: تحطم طائرة مسيرة روسية يصيب اثنين في مبنى سكني روماني

A Russian drone crashed into an apartment building in Romania’s eastern city of Galati, injuring two people and causing a fire on Friday. According to BBC News, the Romanian defense ministry confirmed that the drone’s entire explosive payload detonated, leading to the incident.

Emergency services reported that around 70 residents were evacuated as they worked to extinguish the fire. The two injured individuals received medical treatment for abrasions, marking the first time Romanian citizens have been harmed by such an incident during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Romania’s foreign ministry condemned the crash, labeling it a serious escalation by the Russian Federation. Bucharest has informed NATO’s secretary general and requested enhanced anti-drone capabilities for the country. In response to the drone’s incursion, two F-16 fighter jets were scrambled to patrol Romanian airspace.

This incident is part of a broader pattern, as Romania has recorded 47 instances of drone fragments found on its territory since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, with 12 occurrences happening this year alone. While Russian drones have previously crossed into Romanian airspace, this marks a significant escalation with direct consequences for civilians.

In related developments, a nationwide air raid alert was issued in Ukraine, where the port of Izmail in the Odesa region was targeted by drone attacks. The conflict continues to escalate, with both sides suffering casualties from drone-related incidents.