On Friday, a Russian drone crashed into a residential building in the eastern Romanian city of Galați, setting its roof ablaze and injuring two people. The incident, part of a broader pattern of intensified Russian attacks on Ukraine, has drawn condemnation across Europe and from NATO. But for residents of Galați, the immediate concern is personal: they fear it could happen again.
Vasile Opincă, an 87-year-old who lives near the struck building, told Euronews that he now regularly scans the sky from his tenth-floor apartment. “For sure we are afraid,” he said. “I have nowhere to go except under the table.” Opincă also worries about his food supplies: “Food that's stored in the fridge is all that I have,” he explained, noting that a power outage would complicate matters further.
Growing Anxiety Among Families
Parents in Galați have also voiced concerns. Liviu Stoian, father of a ten-year-old, said schools currently conduct earthquake drills but lack protocols for drone incidents. “These drone incidents are becoming increasingly more common,” Stoian told Euronews. “The school should also instruct the children to know what can happen.” He believes training should extend to the general population: “The general population, in the first place here in Galați, should be trained very well.”
The drone, believed to be a Geran-2 model, was part of an overnight attack on Ukraine before it changed trajectory and crossed into Romanian airspace. It struck the roof of a residential building, sparking a fire that led to evacuations. Two people sustained injuries. The cause of the course deviation remains unclear, but the event has heightened fears that the war could spill across NATO borders.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte expressed “absolute solidarity” with Romania after speaking with President Klaus Iohannis. The alliance has previously condemned such incursions, but this is one of the most direct incidents on NATO soil since the war began.
For residents like Opincă, the psychological toll is heavy. “I have nowhere to go except under the table,” he repeated, underscoring a sense of helplessness. The incident has also sparked broader debate about emergency preparedness in Romanian cities near the Ukrainian border.
Romania’s foreign minister has squarely blamed Russia for the civilian casualties, calling it “Russia’s full responsibility.” The country has stepped up air patrols and is reviewing its civil defense protocols. But for many in Galați, the question remains: what happens next time?
