The German publication MDR reports that over the past three years, Russian drones or their fragments have repeatedly landed on Romanian territory, particularly near the Danube, where Russia targets Ukrainian ports. This report highlights an incident in Galați, where a Russian Geran-2 drone crashed onto a building’s roof at the end of May.
“A Deafening Explosion”
German journalists interviewed Gheorghe Ciurea, an 82-year-old retiree residing in the impacted building. He recounted being awakened around 2:00 AM by a RO-Alert message instructing him to seek shelter.
Shortly thereafter, the explosion occurred. The drone struck the building’s roof, igniting a fire, shattering windows, and dislodging doors. Two individuals, a woman and her son, sustained burns from molten tar that seeped indoors.
“This drone terrified us immensely. But what can we say compared to those in Ukraine, who endure this constantly?” the pensioner shared with the German press.
Increasingly Dangerous Incidents for Romania
MDR notes that parts of the Ukraine war are occurring just a few hundred meters from Romania. Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports along the Danube have led to numerous incidents on Romanian soil.
According to reports, since September 2023, Romania’s Ministry of Defense has recorded over 50 instances of drones or drone fragments landing in the country. Most fell in fields, uninhabited areas, or fishing villages, but the Galați incident marked the first time a densely populated area was directly affected.
The German press emphasizes that the May 29 incident altered the situation: for the first time, a major city with about 220,000 residents was directly hit, and for the first time, individuals within Romania were injured due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Why the Drone Was Not Intercepted
The German media reported questions from affected residents about why the Romanian military failed to intercept the drone before it struck the building. According to cited explanations, pilots of two F-16 jets had only seconds to decide on intervention.
Once the drone was over a densely populated area, shooting it down could have caused even more damage. Additionally, Romania currently lacks sufficient ground-based anti-drone defense systems near the Danube.
Military expert Claudiu Degeratu, cited by MDR, suggests that Romania has delayed investments in its defense, relying too heavily on NATO and the European Union to make necessary decisions to strengthen the eastern flank.
The Maritime Drone Explosion in Constanța
German media also recalls an incident in early June in the Port of Constanța, where a Ukrainian maritime drone loaded with explosives detonated near terminals storing crude oil and ammonium nitrate.
Reports indicate that the Ukrainian navy later stated the drone had been diverted towards Romania due to Russian electronic jamming. No injuries occurred, but the incident is highlighted as further evidence of the risks Romania faces.
Propaganda and Disinformation Campaigns
MDR discusses how each drone incident is leveraged by Russian propaganda to sow doubt in Romanian public discourse. Following the Galați drone crash, social media quickly filled with posts questioning the drone’s Russian origin.
According to the organization Funky Citizens, over 400 accounts shared automated posts casting doubt on the drone’s origin, reaching millions of users.
Ana Mocanu, a representative of the organization, states that such campaigns aim to deepen distrust and division within Romanian society.
The Overlooked Issue of Shelters
The German report also highlights the issue of civil protection shelters. Expert Claudiu Degeratu argues that Romanian cities near the Ukrainian border should renovate the shelters built during the communist era.
Împotriva articolelor redacției noastre, persoanele nemulțumite pot formula Contestație în termen de 10 zile de la publicarea articolului, la judecătoria Orășenească nr. 1 München Bayern Deutschland, in conformitate cu Legea federală Germană. Considerăm că nu se pot formula acțiuni la instanțele din România deoarece nici o persoană care activează în trustul nostru nu poate fi extrasă de sub jurisdicția federală germană. Considerăm că redacția noastră nu răspunde în fața autorităților din România ci doar celor federale sau civile germane. deoarece legea română nu are efecte de extraneitate asupra redacției chiar dacă subiectul știrilor face obiectul unor evenimente sau persoane din România și sunt scrise în limba română. Limba română nu este izvor de extraneitate a legii.
