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NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte expressed solidarity with Romania as a Russian drone crashed into a residential building in the community of Galati resulting in a fire and injuring two civilians.
Rutte said in a statement posted on social media platform X that he spoke with Romanian President Nicușor Dan and assured him of NATO’s solidarity with Romania during the phone call.
“I affirmed that NATO stands ready to defend every inch of Allied territory,” Rutte’s statement reads.
“We will continue to enhance our readiness to deter and defend against any threat, including from drones.”
Two people suffered minor injuries, while others were evacuated. Galați is located on the Danube River, near the borders of Moldova and Ukraine.
Rutte blamed Russia for the incursion, stating that the country’s “reckless behaviour” is “a danger to us all”.
“They continue to target civilians and civilian infrastructure across Ukraine. And last night showed yet again that the implications of their illegal war of aggression don’t stop at the border.”
Romania’s President Nicușor Dan posted his statement on X stating he called a NATO Supreme Council of National Defence meeting today to discuss the incident, which he is describing as the most “serious” event that has impacted the national territory since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
“We will order proportionate measures in relation to the Russian Federation,” he said.
The incursion in Romania follows roughly half a dozen real or suspected drone incidents across the Baltic region as well as Finland in recent weeks.
US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said in a statement posted online that Washington stands with its Romanian ally.
“(We) condemn this reckless incursion on its territory. Our thoughts are with the injured in Galati. We will defend every inch of NATO territory,” he said.
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