UPDATE Drone incident/President Nicusor Dan convenes the Supreme Council of National Defence
President Nicusor Dan on Friday convened a meeting of the Supreme Council of National Defence to discuss the implications of the most serious incident affecting national territory since the beginning of the war of aggression launched by the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
'I have convened the meeting of the Supreme Council of National Defence today to discuss the implications of the most serious incident affecting national territory since the beginning of the war of aggression launched by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. We will take proportionate measures in relation to the Russian Federation. My thoughts are, first and foremost, with the injured, with their families, and with the residents who experienced terrifying moments in their own homes. I thank them for the calm they showed in responding to this situation and assure them of the full support of the Romanian state,' the President wrote on his Facebook page.
According to him, 'the unprecedented nature of the event requires a firm, coordinated and proportionate response - at national, allied and international level.'
'I state with full firmness that full responsibility for this incident lies with the Russian Federation. What happened today in Galati is a direct consequence of the war of aggression unleashed by Russia against Ukraine, of the irresponsible and indiscriminate way in which Moscow operates these weapons systems in the immediate vicinity of NATO borders, as well as of its systematic disregard for international law. There is no ambiguity regarding the author and cause of this aggression,' the head of state stressed.
Nicusor Dan emphasised that the Romanian Armed Forces acted in accordance with established procedures for such situations, having clear orders to shoot down the drone as soon as conditions allowed for such an operation without risking casualties or damage on the ground.
'After army radar detected the drone upon entering national airspace, two Romanian Air Force F-16 aircraft and an IAR-330 SOCAT helicopter tracked it within national airspace. The decision not to engage the target was taken because conditions were not met to allow its destruction without significantly endangering civilian safety,' the President said.
He added that Romania's response 'is firm and multi-layered.'
'I have ordered and implemented the following measures, some of which have already been carried out:
I informed all NATO allies and European Union partners about the incident. Communication with allied military structures is ongoing in real time.
Romania has formally requested that allies deploy additional anti-drone capabilities on national territory, to strengthen our defence and that of the Eastern Flank of the Alliance, in accordance with SACEUR instructions.
Romania will officially inform the United Nations Security Council about this brutal and repeated violation of international law by the Russian Federation,' the President of Romania stated. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Andreea Rotaru; EN - writing by: Cristina Zaharia)
The content of the www.agerpres.ro website has the exclusive purpose of public informing.
All the information published on this website by AGERPRES is protected by relevant legal dispositions.
It is forbidden to copy, reproduce, recompile, decompile, distribute, publish, display, modify, create derived components or products or full services, as well as any exploitation of the site's content.
Details in the section Terms of Use. If you are interested in picking up AGERPRES news items, please contact the Marketing Department – marketing@agerpres.ro.
The use of the Comments section entails your obligation to respect the AGERPRES terms and conditions in regards to the publishing of comments on the www.agerpres.ro.
Other news in category
INTERVIEW/ Energy minister: Plans afoot to extend household natural gas support scheme beyond April 1
Energy Minister Dumitru Chisalita intends to propose continuing the support scheme for household natural gas consumers beyond April 1, so as to avoid major price increases and ensure a smoother transition to a new stage. In an interview with AGERPRES, he explained that he would review the scheme so that, by the end of the year, there would be a clear objective
Works by Henri Matisse go on display at Palace of Culture in Iasi
Lithographs, paintings and other works by Henri Matisse, one of the most important artists of the 20th century, are on display until January 10, 2027, as part of the exhibition 'Matisse la Palat' ('Matisse at the Palace'), held in the Treasury Hall of the Art Museum at the Palace of Culture in Iasi. The exhibition opened on Tuesday, marking the
Romania remains fully committed to joining OECD as soon as possible, PM Niculescu says
Prime Minister Luca Niculescu held a telephone conversation on Tuesday with Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Secretary-General Mathias Cormann, after which he said Romania remained fully committed to its goal of joining the OECD as soon as possible. 'An excellent discussion with OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann, a friend
Timisoara exhibition 'Traditional Costume - A World Woven with Symbols' showcases dozens of historic textile pieces
The Banat Village Museum (MSB) in Timisoara will open an exhibition on Thursday featuring more than 80 items of traditional clothing and accessories, including shirts and traditional wraparound skirts dating from the late 19th century, offering visitors a glimpse into the traditional dress of Banat's communities. The exhibition, entitled 'Adornments fr
Sighisoara farmer leads effort to preserve Romania's only internationally recognized chicken breed
On the outskirts of the medieval town of Sighisoara, in the tiny hamlet of Angofa, farmer Mircea Tant has taken on a mission that goes far beyond traditional poultry farming. Through years of selective breeding and conservation work, he is helping preserve one of Romania's most distinctive elements of agricultural heritage: the Transylvanian Naked Neck, the country's
Romania's Silisteanu wins Youth Olympic gold in Dakar
Romanian swimmer Daria-Mariuca Silisteanu won the gold medal in the women's 100m backstroke at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, on Tuesday, clocking 59.98 seconds. South Korea's Seungwon Kim took silver in 1:00.25, while Argentina's Cecilia Dieleke claimed bronze in 1:00.83. Romania narrowly missed another medal in swimming
AEP chief says half of staff never sat competitive exams, defends reorganization plan
President of the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP) Adrian Tutuianu told a joint meeting of Parliament's legal committees on Tuesday that roughly half of the institution's employees had not been hired through a competitive examination, arguing that this makes reform difficult. Discussing a new organizational regulation for the Authority, Tutuianu said
We will firmly request that Gov't keep national minimum wage for 2027 (IMM Romania)
IMM Romania (the Romanian SME association) will request that the Government keep the national minimum wage unchanged for 2027, arguing that a further increase could exacerbate economic difficulties and place additional pressure on companies, the organization's president, Florin Jianu, stated on Tuesday during a press conference. 'We will firmly and cle
Interior minister, US ambassador discuss strengthening strategic partnership, Black Sea security
Strengthening the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the United States was the main topic of discussions on Tuesday between Internal Affairs Minister Marian Neacsu and US Ambassador to Bucharest Darryl Nirenberg. 'The meeting provided an opportunity for an in-depth exchange of views on current security developments, excellent bilateral cooperation a
Romanian president to receive Belarusian opposition leader, senior US defence official on Wednesday
President Nicusor Dan will receive Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace on Wednesday, the Presidential Administration announced. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, leader of the Belarusian democratic opposition, will be received by Nicusor Dan at 12:00.
Romania aims to break world record for simultaneous tree planting with over 3,000 volunteers
More than 3,000 volunteers will gather on Saturday in Poienarii Burchii, Prahova County, for an event entitled 'Forest of Friendship', aiming to set a new world record for simultaneous tree planting, the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests (MMAP) said in a press release sent to AGERPRES on Tuesday. The event, organised by the Act for Tomorrow A
Nazare: Romania must aim for a budget deficit of 5% of GDP by 2027
Romania needs to move toward a budget deficit of 5% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2027; however, an exact target has not yet been set, as this will be discussed once the data required for drafting next year's budget becomes available, Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare stated on Tuesday. 'We are not yet discussing a specific target for 2027, an
Over half of Romanians plan to make purchases on Black Friday 2026 (survey)
More than half of the Romanians (56%) who are aware of the Black Friday plan to purchase in the 2026 edition, and a third of potential buyers will allocate a budget of over RON 3,000, reveals a specialist survey published on Tuesday. According to data centralised by Kantar Romania, Black Friday remains among the most famous sale events in Romania, with a conti
PM Niculescu: Economic recovery, increased investment and job preservation top Government priorities
Prime Minister Luca Niculescu said on Tuesday that economic recovery, increasing investments, preserving jobs and creating new ones are among the top priorities on the agenda of the Government he leads. The Executive head participated in the launch event of the 3rd edition of the 'Barometer of Entrepreneurs Building Romania.' 'I want
Romania's First Lady Gradinaru: Treatment alone is not enough for families of children with diabetes
Treatment alone is not enough for families of children with diabetes or metabolic diseases; they also need support and guidance to help them regain their balance, Mirabela Gradinaru, the partner of President Nicusor Dan, said on Tuesday. She attended the launch of a fundraising campaign to build Romania's first Integrated University Clinic for Paediatric D