Russia orders Romania's consulate in St. Petersburg closed

Russia has ordered the closure of Romania's consulate in Saint Petersburg, also expelling the country's consul general. This move is a direct retaliatory measure following Romania's earlier decision to close Russia's diplomatic mission in the port city of Constanta.

The diplomatic dispute escalates existing tensions between Russia and Romania, a member of both the European Union and NATO. Relations have been particularly strained in recent months, exacerbated by an incident last month where a drone reportedly crashed into a house in Galati, Romania, a town situated near the Ukrainian border.

Romania has accused Russia of involvement in the drone incident, contributing to the deteriorating diplomatic climate. The tit-for-tat expulsions and consulate closures signal a significant downturn in bilateral relations between the two nations.