Nato and Romania accuse Russia after drone hits block of flats

Nato member Romania said on Friday that a drone injured two people in a southeastern city during an overnight Russian attack on neighbouring Ukraine, the first time in the war that a drone had hit a densely populated area in Romania and caused injuries.

The incident in Romania, also a member of the European Union, ‌was likely to increase tensions on Nato’s eastern flank at a time when Ukraine’s allies were worried about Russia’s war on its neighbour spilling over its borders.

“We condemn Russia’s recklessness, and Nato will continue to strengthen our defences against all threats, including drones,” a Nato spokesperson posted on X.

The drone hit the roof of a 10-storey block of flats in Galati and caused an explosion, the Romanian authorities said.

“Initial information indicates that the entire load of the Geran 2 drone, of Russian origin, exploded upon impact,” the defence ministry said in a statement.

Romania, which shares a 650km (400-mile) land border with Ukraine, has experienced Russian drones breaching ⁠its airspace 28 times since Moscow began attacking Kyiv’s ports across the Danube River, Romania’s defence ministry said.