Moscow Threatens Measures After Romania Expels Russian Diplomat

Moscow has vowed to take "retaliatory" measures following Romania's decision to expel a Russian diplomat, according to Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for Russia's Foreign Ministry. Romania had declared the Russian consul in Constanța persona non grata and revoked its consent for the operation of the consular office in the city.

Zakharova stated that Romania's "unfriendly actions" would not go unanswered, and specific steps would be announced at the appropriate time. The expulsion of the consul, Andrei Kosilin, followed Romania's analysis of a drone that crashed in Galați, which authorities concluded originated from the Russian Federation. President Nicușor Dan announced the closure of the Russian consulate in Constanța and the expulsion of its consul on Friday, warning that any repeat of the incident would lead to the expulsion of the Russian ambassador to Bucharest.

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With certainty, the unfriendly actions of the Romanian authorities will not remain without response. Specific steps will be announced at the appropriate time.

In a separate but related issue, the Kremlin stated that it has not yet received a response from Bucharest regarding President Vladimir Putin's request to examine the wreckage of the drone that crashed in Galați last week. Putin had questioned the Russian origin of the drone that fell on an apartment building in Galați and demanded proof from Romania. "Who in Romania says this is a Russian drone? No one can determine the origin (of the drone) as long as an examination of this device is not carried out," the Russian president had said on the day of the incident, suggesting the wreckage be handed over to Russia for examination.

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Who in Romania says this is a Russian drone? No one can determine the origin (of the drone) as long as an examination of this device is not carried out.