Romania warns Russia of ambassador expulsion after drone incident

Romanian President Nicușor Dan has issued a stern warning to Moscow, suggesting the expulsion of the Russian ambassador could be a future diplomatic measure following a Russian drone strike on an apartment building in Galați. In an interview with the BBC, Dan stated that the closure of the Russian Consulate General in Constanța serves as a clear warning to Russian authorities.

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The measure of closing the consulate in Constanța represents a warning to the Russian side, and I hope they will stop.

Dan emphasized that Romania possesses a hierarchy of diplomatic responses should such incidents recur. "Expulsion of the ambassador, for example. Yes, there is this hierarchy of measures that can be taken at the diplomatic level," he explained, indicating that further actions are being considered if Russia does not cease such incursions. He described the drone incident as the most severe security breach on Romanian territory since the start of Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

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Expulsion of the ambassador, for example. Yes, there is this hierarchy of measures that can be taken at the diplomatic level.

Providing concrete evidence, President Dan asserted that technical analysis confirms the drone's Russian origin. Fragments from the drone that crashed in Galați were compared to those of a similar drone discovered in Romania approximately a month prior. "We have compared the two drones – the remains of the one that exploded yesterday and those of the one that arrived about a month ago – and they are completely identical. Therefore, we can say with certainty that it is a Russian drone," Dan stated. He further explained that such drones are typically used to attack Ukrainian Danube ports, crucial for grain exports. The Romanian military monitored 43 drones near the border on the day of the incident, with one changing course into Romanian airspace after being hit by Ukrainian air defenses.

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We have compared the two drones – the remains of the one that exploded yesterday and those of the one that arrived about a month ago – and they are completely identical. Therefore, we can say with certainty that it is a Russian drone.