At night in Romania, an event occurred that sharply escalated the situation on NATO's eastern flank. A Russian drone, breaching the air defense system, crashed into a residential building in the city of Galați. The result was a powerful explosion and a fire that engulfed an apartment on the tenth floor. The situation depicted in the photo, where flames consume the upper floors of a high-rise, became the catalyst for unprecedented measures by Bucharest.
Diplomatic Break and Persona Non Grata
President of Romania Nicușor Dan did not delay his reaction. Immediately after an emergency meeting of the National Security Council, he announced a decision that puts an end to the diplomatic presence of the Russian Federation in one of the key port cities. The Russian General Consulate in Constanța is closing, and the Russian consul has been declared persona non grata and must leave the country.
Dan emphasized that all responsibility for the incident, in which two citizens were injured, lies exclusively with Moscow. This is not just a formal rebuke, but a stern signal: violation of the territorial integrity of a NATO ally will have immediate consequences.
"The Most Serious Incident"
The head of the Romanian state called the attack in Galați the most serious security event on the country's territory since the beginning of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. The incident was discussed at the highest level: Dan contacted NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The Alliance's response was unequivocal — "absolute solidarity" and confirmation of readiness to defend every inch of allies' territory.
Mobilization of Civil Defense
In addition to diplomatic steps, authorities focused on practical protective measures. The Minister of Internal Affairs reported on the rapid response of services and the strengthening of security measures across all potentially vulnerable territory. The number of personnel and protective mechanisms has been increased to prevent a recurrence of such tragedies. Acting Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan also confirmed that Bucharest is preparing a package of sanctions against Russian diplomats in response to the attack.