Hungary has condemned an incident in neighbouring Romania after a Russian explosive-laden drone crashed into a residential building in the southeastern city of Galați early on Friday, sparking a fire and forcing residents to evacuate. NATO and EU leaders also issued strong statements, as Bucharest moved to investigate the incident and step up diplomatic pressure.

According to Romanian emergency authorities, the drone struck a 10-storey apartment block, triggering an explosion and a fire on the upper floors. Around 70 residents were evacuated, and two people suffered minor injuries. Reuters reported the injured were a woman and her child.

What happened in Romania’s border region

Romania’s Foreign Ministry said the Russian Federation resumed overnight drone attacks on civilian and infrastructure targets in Ukraine near the river border with Romania, and that the drone was tracked by radar before it entered Romanian airspace and crashed into the roof of the apartment block. Romanian authorities also issued emergency warnings to residents in nearby counties as the situation developed overnight, Anadolu reported.

MTI’s summary said the impact was followed by an explosion and fire that broke out in one of the flats on the 10th floor. The fire was eventually extinguished by military firefighters. In addition to the two people who suffered minor injuries during the evacuation, further residents needed medical care, including two treated on the spot for panic attacks.

Reuters described Friday’s incident as the first time during Russia’s war against Ukraine that a drone hit a densely populated area in Romania and caused injuries, heightening concerns about spillover risks on NATO’s eastern flank.

NATO condemns ‘recklessness’, vows stronger defences

Reacting to the incident, NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said the alliance would continue strengthening its defence against all threats, including drones, and condemned what she described as Russia’s recklessness, according to MTI.

Hart also said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was in contact with Romanian authorities.

Reuters added that Romania formally alerted NATO and requested an expedited delivery of anti-drone capabilities.

Von der Leyen: Russia has ‘crossed another line’ on EU territory

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Russia’s aggressive war had crossed “another line” by hitting a densely populated residential area on EU territory and injuring civilians, MTI reported.

She said the European Union would keep strengthening security and deterrence, particularly along its eastern border, while increasing pressure on Russia. Von der Leyen added that Brussels was preparing the next sanctions package, described as the 21st, against Moscow.

Hungary expresses solidarity with Romania

Hungary responded on Friday morning, with the Hungarian prime minister condemning any attack that endangers the civilian population and any violation of the territory and airspace of a sovereign EU and NATO member state.

Hungary expressed solidarity with Romania and supports a full investigation into the incident.

For international readers, the political significance is clear: Romania is both an EU and NATO member, meaning any strike linked to Russia’s war that lands on Romanian territory immediately becomes a wider European security issue, even if the drone was not intended to hit Romania.

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Romania summons Russian envoy and details military response

Romania also took diplomatic steps after what its officials described as an extremely serious incident. Anadolu reported that Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu said Russia’s ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Ministry after defence authorities confirmed the drone was of Russian origin.

Reuters reported that Romanian forces scrambled F-16 fighter jets and a helicopter after drones were detected near Romanian airspace, but the drone involved in the Galați crash flew too low to be intercepted.

Reuters also reported a separate development: a drone without an explosive charge was found in Maramureș county in northwestern Romania.

What to watch next

Romanian authorities are expected to provide further findings as investigations continue, including details on the drone’s route and how it crossed into Romanian airspace. Politically, the incident is likely to sharpen the focus on air-defence and counter-drone measures along NATO’s eastern border, while adding momentum to EU-level discussions on additional sanctions.

According to Agerpress, President Nicusor Dan convened a meeting of the Supreme Council of National Defence to discuss the implications of the most serious incident affecting national territory since the start of the Russian Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

Hungary’s public condemnation and expression of solidarity with Bucharest places Budapest within the broader regional response, as allied governments weigh both the immediate security lessons and the diplomatic consequences of a strike that ended with civilians injured on EU and NATO territory.

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UPDATE – Former PM Orbán’s post

“We stand in solidarity with those injured in the drone attack on neighboring Romania. The incident confirms that the war poses a direct threat to neighboring countries,” Viktor Orbán wrote on Facebook, though he did not address the fact that, the drone was of Russian origin.

He also issued a call to the current government:

“We therefore call on the Hungarian government to maintain the policy of neutrality established by the previous government and not to take a single step toward a pro-war Europe!”

Foreign minister Orbán’s message

“Hungary condemns in the strongest possible terms any attack that endangers the civilian population and leads to a violation of the territory and airspace of a sovereign EU and NATO member state,” Foreign Minister Anita Orbán said.

Sources: MTI; Anadolu Agency; Reuters.