Bucharest, April 25 – Fragments from a second drone have surfaced in Romania, the nation's defense ministry confirmed on Saturday. This discovery follows a significant overnight Russian assault on neighboring Ukraine. The scattered wreckage, found in the Galati region and Tulcea county, has been linked to attacks that occurred on the night of April 24-25.
Drone debris, identified as originating from Russian strikes targeting Ukraine, has now been recovered in Romania on two separate occasions. This latest find coincides with the first reported instance of property damage within Romanian territory attributed to such incidents, highlighting a developing pattern of airborne incursions.
The Romanian Foreign Ministry has officially protested these occurrences, summoning the Russian ambassador to Bucharest. The ministry has characterized Russia's actions as a direct violation of Romanian airspace and an "irresponsible act" that jeopardized public safety. President Nicușor Dan stated this marked the initial occasion where drone wreckage led to property damage within Romania.
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The recovered fragments were located in the southeastern city of Galati, where an electricity pole and a household annex sustained damage. No casualties have been reported in connection with these findings.
In response to the escalating situation, Romania is moving to bolster its air defense capabilities. Defense Minister Radu Miruta announced on Friday that a U.S.-made counter-drone system, described as having artificial intelligence capabilities, is slated for integration into national air defense systems within days, pending final testing. This move comes as Poland already employs a similar system on the NATO eastern flank.
While fragments of drones have routinely fallen on Romanian soil previously, the instances on April 25 are distinguished by the direct damage to civilian property. The Russian attacks on Ukraine during the night of April 24-25 were extensive, with reports indicating a large-scale aerial assault.
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