Russian Drone Crashes into Residential Building in NATO Member Romania, Fire Reported as F-16s Scrambled

ROMANIA — A Russian drone entered Romanian airspace during overnight attacks on Ukraine and crashed into a residential block of flats in the southern area of Galați on the night of May 28–29, causing a fire.

The Romanian Ministry of National Defense confirmed that one of the drones involved in Russian strikes on civilian and infrastructure targets in Ukraine crossed into Romanian airspace.

Radar systems tracked the drone to the southern area of Galați, where it crashed onto the roof of a block of flats. The impact was followed by a fire. Specialized teams from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Romanian Intelligence Service, and the Romanian Police are operating at the site.

MoD radars detected additional drones flying near Romanian airspace. Two F-16 aircraft from the 86th Air Base in Fetești took off at 1:19 a.m. supported by an IAR 330 SOCAT helicopter of the Romanian Air Force.

The aircraft pilots had authorization to engage targets throughout the alert. The National Military Command Center informed the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations about the need to institute measures to alert the population. RO-Alert messages were sent for Tulcea, Galați, and Brăila counties.

The situation remains dynamic. The Ministry of National Defense stated it will return with further information and official data as they become available.

Update (May 29)

The Romanian General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations reported that the drone struck a 10th-floor apartment in a residential building in Galați, causing a fire.

Two people suffered minor injuries. The drone’s entire explosive payload detonated on impact. Around 70 residents were evacuated, and firefighters extinguished the blaze. Authorities are continuing to investigate.

Separately, Romanian authorities reported finding another drone with a wingspan of approximately 3 metes (9.84 feet) in Maramures county.

Official Statements

Romanian Ministry of National Defense (May 29, 2026): “During the night of May 28 to 29, the Russian Federation resumed drone attacks on civilian and infrastructure targets in Ukraine, in the vicinity of the river border with Romania. One of these drones entered Romanian airspace, being tracked by radar to the southern area of the city of Galați, and crashed onto the roof of a block of flats, the impact being followed by a fire. Specialized teams from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Romanian Intelligence Service and the Romanian Police are operating on site. MoD radars detected drones flying near Romanian airspace. Two F-16 aircraft in the Air Police combat service took off at 01.19 from the 86th Air Base in Fetești, supported by an IAR 330 SOCAT helicopter of the Romanian Air Force. The aircraft pilots had authorization to engage targets throughout the alert. The National Military Command Center (core) informed the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations about the need to institute measures to alert the population. In this context, RO-Alert messages were sent for Tulcea, Galați and Brăila counties. The situation is dynamic and we will return with information and official data as they become available.”