Russia and attacks on civilian infrastructure

Fragments of Russian drones destroyed by the Ukrainian defense have dropped again on Romanian soil, near the border with Ukraine

Daniela Budu, 26.07.2024, 14:00

Fragments of a Russian drone were found in a town in Tulcea county (eastern Romania), near the border with Ukraine, after the attacks on Tuesday night on the civilian and port infrastructure in the neighboring country, the Ministry of National Defense has informed. Other drone debris reached the Romanian airspace the following night, when Russia resumed its attacks. The Ministry of Defense has specified that all areas where drone debris fell are outside inhabited areas and no infrastructure elements were affected.

The Chief of the Defense Staff, General Vlad Gheorghiţă, explained that the proximity of the conflict zone can generate such risks, but that every time detailed investigations and analyses are conducted, to exclude any danger. Vlad Gheorghiţă:

“If fragments are found, we must know their origin. They are analyzed from a chemical point of view, from a spectral point of view. There are a lot of tests that need to be done, so that we can make sure that there is no danger either for the population, or for the environment, for anyone who would be involved in such an event”.

During the two nights when foreign drones reached the Romanian airspace, the population in the area was warned by RO-ALERT messages, and the Romanian Air Force monitored and supervised the area. The Chargé D’affaires of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Bucharest was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he was conveyed the firm protest of the Romanian authorities against such acts. Romania condemns Russia’s ‘irresponsible’ actions, stated the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminiţa Odobescu.

Nicolae Ciuca, the Senate Speaker and leader of the National Liberal Party has stated that Romania is safe and when we discuss any kind of threat to our security, the most important thing we can do is to treat the situation with calm. “We are in continuous communication and coordination with the allies, especially with the countries from NATO’s Eastern Flank. Our army monitors all possible threats”, Nicolae Ciucă wrote on social media.

For its part, NATO stated that it does not see in this incident any sign of any intentional attack by Moscow on the territory of the Alliance, but such actions are irresponsible and potentially dangerous.

According to a press release from the organization, NATO has intensified its surveillance and monitoring measures in the Black Sea region, including through aerial patrols. Romania has a 650 km border with Ukraine and in the last year it has reported several times the presence of fragments of Russian drones on its territory. (MI)