Romania is expelling the Russian consul in Constanța and closing the consulate after a Russian drone hit an apartment building on May 29, 2026 [1].
The incident marks a significant escalation in regional tensions, as it is the first time a residential area within a NATO member state has seen injuries during the invasion of Ukraine [2].
The drone fell on an apartment block in eastern Romania near the Ukrainian border, injuring two residents [1]. Romanian authorities described the attack as irresponsible, saying that the responsibility for the event lies entirely with Russia [1]. President Dan said, "責任はすべてロシアにある" [3].
This event follows a pattern of increasing airspace violations. Russian drones have entered Romanian airspace for three consecutive days [4]. The diplomatic response in the southeast city of Constanța serves as a direct reprimand for these repeated incursions.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attack serves to make Russia feel the weight of its losses [3]. The Romanian government has not specified when the consulate closure will be fully finalized, but the expulsion of the consul was announced immediately following the strike [1].
Local emergency services responded to the apartment complex to treat the two injured individuals [1]. The proximity of the strike to the Ukrainian border highlights the continuing risk to civilian populations in neighboring NATO countries as the conflict persists.
“The responsibility for the event lies entirely with Russia.”
The expulsion of a consul and the closure of a diplomatic mission signify a severe breakdown in bilateral relations. By targeting a residential area in a NATO member state, Russia has crossed a physical and political threshold that may prompt further collective security discussions among allies to prevent future incursions into sovereign airspace.
