The United Kingdom has summoned Russia’s ambassador following a drone strike that hit a residential building in Romania, a NATO member state, during a Russian attack linked to the war in Ukraine.
Britain’s Foreign Office announced the move on Wednesday, describing the incident as a serious violation that left two civilians injured in the Romanian city of Galati, near the Ukrainian border.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper strongly condemned the attack and reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to defending NATO allies against any threat to their territory.
According to the Foreign Office, the strike occurred last week during a wave of Russian attacks targeting Ukraine.
“Russia’s latest brutal bombardment of civilians in Ukraine comes after its violation of NATO airspace last week, which resulted in a residential building being struck in Romania,” the ministry said in a statement.
The British government described the incident as unacceptable, stressing that innocent civilians should never be harmed on NATO territory.
“Injuring civilians on NATO soil is unacceptable and serves as a stark reminder of the daily dangers faced by people in Ukraine,” the statement added.
The diplomatic protest marks the latest escalation in tensions between Western governments and Moscow as the war in Ukraine continues to spill over into neighbouring regions.
Romanian authorities reported that two people were injured when the drone struck a residential apartment block in Galati, prompting emergency responders and security officials to secure the area.
The UK government said it stood firmly alongside Romania and other NATO allies in safeguarding the alliance’s territory and collective security.
The incident has renewed concerns about the risk of the Ukraine conflict extending beyond its borders and increasing pressure on NATO member states situated near the war zone.
Moscow has yet to publicly respond to Britain’s decision to summon its ambassador over the incident.
