Russian UAV crashes into high-rise residential building in Romania, causing fire, injuring people

A Russian drone has crashed into a high-rise residential building in the Romanian border city of Galați, striking an apartment and causing a fire. Two people have been injured. Ukraine's Air Force had earlier reported a Russian drone attack targeting Odesa Oblast.

Source: Romanian radio station Pro Lider FM; Viata Libera; General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations in Galați; Romanian Defence Ministry

Details: Residents of a building on one of the city's streets were woken at night by the distinctive sound of a drone in flight, followed by a loud explosion. A fire then broke out in an apartment on the ninth floor.

Emergency services and police were working at the scene. Around 70 residents were evacuated from the building.

The apartment was significantly damaged. Two people have been slightly injured and are suffering from shock.

Daniela Enciu, the head of the Galați county ambulance service, later reported that a woman had suffered first-degree burns, while a 14-year-old boy was suffering from shock. Both received medical treatment.

Before the incident, Ukraine's Air Force had reported a group of Russian drones heading towards the city of Reni in Odesa Oblast.

Update: The General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations in Galați confirmed the drone strike on a residential building and the fire on the ninth floor as well as the injuries and evacuations.

Emergency services later reported that the fire had been extinguished and the "red plan" (a protocol for actions in the event of an emergency) had been lifted. It was established that the drone's explosive payload had detonated and no longer posed a threat. The Romanian Defence Ministry confirmed that the drone that crashed into the building in Galați was Russian.

Quote from the Romanian Defence Ministry: "The Russian Federation resumed its drone attacks on civilian and infrastructure facilities in Ukraine on the night of 28-29 May, near the river border with Romania.

One drone entered Romanian airspace and was tracked by radar to the southern part of Galați, after which it fell onto the roof of a residential building and a fire broke out as a result of the ensuing explosion."

Details: Two F-16 fighter jets from Fetești air base were scrambled at 01:19, supported by an IAR 330 SOCAT helicopter, to intercept the drone. The pilots were authorised to engage the asset.

Following the detection of the drone, warning alerts were issued via the Ro-Alert system in the counties of Tulcea, Galați and Brăila.

Quote from the Romanian Defence Ministry: "The situation is evolving dynamically and we will provide official information and data as soon as they become available."

Details: The distance between Reni and Galați is around 20 km as the crow flies.

Background:

• On 25 April, drone debris was found in Romania near the border with Ukraine after debris of another UAV had been discovered near Galați. The Romanian Foreign Ministry summoned Russia's ambassador.
• Romania's Defence Ministry earlier reported finding wreckage from a drone that had fallen in a residential area of the municipality of Galați on the morning of 25 April, causing damage to property. The debris was later neutralised by experts from the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Romanian Intelligence Service.
• Romania's Emergency Service said it had temporarily evacuated people who were in the vicinity of the drone found in Galați. Romanian President Nicușor Dan said this was the first time a drone had caused damage to property in Romania.
• The drone debris was found after Russia launched another large-scale aerial attack on Ukraine on the night of 24-25 April, including in the area near the Romanian-Ukrainian border.

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