Russian drone that struck Romanian residential building redirected, Bucharest says as NATO condemns 'reckless' attack

The Russian drone that struck a residential building in the Romanian city of Galati was redirected from its original course, President Nicursor Dan was cited by Romanian media as saying on May 29.

The Russian Shahed-type drone was part of a larger group targeted by Ukrainian air defense over the Danube River in Odesa Oblast, and "one of them, likely struck over the city of Reni, altered its course and headed toward Galati," Dan said, as cited by Romanian media outlet Digi24.

The strike injured two people in just the latest incursion of long-range attack drones into the territory of a NATO member state.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said "Russia's reckless behavior is a danger to us all."

Galati, located in eastern Romania, is only 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the tripoint border of Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine, near southern Odesa Oblast.

Throughout the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian drones have repeatedly crossed into NATO territory, including Romania.

"(T)he Russian Federation resumed drone attacks on civilian and infrastructure targets in Ukraine, in the vicinity of the river border with Romania," a statement from Romania's Defense Ministry read.

A drone entered Romanian airspace, being tracked by radar to the southern area of the city of Galati, and crashed onto the roof of a block of apartments, the impact sparking a fire."

After radars detected drones flying near Romanian airspace, two F-16 jets and a military helicopter took off with authorization to engage targets, the Romanian Defense Ministry added.

Two people were injured in the strike, and 70 people were evacuated from the damaged building, local authorities said, according to Romanian outlet Viata Libera.

The explosive charge of the drone detonated, starting a fire at the scene, officials said, adding that there was no longer a need to evacuate from other parts of the struck residential building.

Russian President Vladimir Putin responded to the attack only later in the evening, claiming that "nobody can know the origin of the drone."

President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X that overnight on May 29, Russian forces carried out a "deliberate strike" on Odesa Oblast, which borders Romania.

"This was yet another cynical attack on civilian infrastructure in our cities and in our waters, targeting civilian container ships. One of the drones... also struck an ordinary residential building in Romania. We wish those injured a speedy recovery. We are ready to support Romania in whatever way is necessary under these circumstances," Zelensky said.