NATO detected and tracked the drone
Meanwhile, a senior source in the Alliance, who wished to remain anonymous, also told PAP that NATO detected and tracked a Russian drone, but it entered Romanian airspace just a few minutes before it hit a residential building in Galacz.
– To illustrate this better: we are talking about an object moving at a speed of nearly 200 km per hour. over a populated area, less than 15 km from the border. However, we are currently analyzing what more can be done to optimize the Romanian and NATO networks of sensors and weapons to safely neutralize such threats, said a senior NATO military official.
How to strengthen the NATO flank?
He added that one way is inclusion of the MEROPS anti-drone system in Romania under NATO command and control, on which the Alliance is working with Bucharest.
— Another solution is for Romania and other allies to continue acquiring new capabilities within the framework Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiatives, that integrates reconnaissance, decision-making and precision means of destruction into a resilient, multi-layered defense concept. (…) Next month, Allies will also have the opportunity at the Capabilities Conference at Headquarters Allied Powers in Europe (SHAPE) to identify additional defense forces and capabilities for Operation Eastern Sentry (Eastern Guard), which is required by Russia's further reckless actions, he said.
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe is located in Mons, Belgium.
A Russian drone crashed in Romania. The most serious incident since the beginning of the full-scale invasion
Solidarity with Romania and condemnation of Russia were expressed, among others, by: representatives of the EU, including Poland and NATO.
Galacz is located approximately 20 km from the border with Ukraine. The command of NATO forces in Europe also announced that the drone that hit the Romanian block was a Russian construction.
This is the most serious such incident on Romanian territory since the beginning of Russian aggression against Ukraine, said President Nicusor Dan. He emphasized that Russia bears full responsibility. We do not agree to the transfer of the war waged by Russia against Ukraine to Romanians, the Romanian president noted.
During the four years of the Russian invasion, drone fragments fell on Romanian territory 47 times, including 12 times this year – wrote the BBC portal, citing the Romanian Ministry of Defense. In Friday's incident, Romanian citizens were injured for the first time.
Bucharest's reaction
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he had spoken to Dan and “Russia's reckless actions pose a threat to all of us.” He announced further strengthening of deterrence and defense capabilities, including against drone attacks.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that the intrusion of a Russian drone into the airspace over a densely populated area of Romania was “crossing another border”. She stressed that the EU is “united in increasing pressure on Russia” and strengthening defense capabilities, in particular along the eastern border.
