UK summons Russian ambassador after drone strike injures civilians in Romania
Vladimir Putin’s representative in the UK has been summoned to the Foreign Office after a Russian drone struck a building in Romania.
The Russian ambassador in London, Andrei Kelin, was called in for a reprimand over the incident last week, which left two people injured and violated the airspace of a NATO member state.
The incident involved a drone crashing into a block of flats in the eastern Romanian city of Galati, near the country’s border with Ukraine.
This comes as Russia launched one of its largest waves of attacks in Ukraine this week, resulting in over 20 fatalities across multiple cities.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian drone strikes targeted the outskirts of the Russian city of St Petersburg on Wednesday, just hours before a major economic forum was set to begin.
Another strike in Russian-occupied Ukraine resulted in the death of eight people and injured 10 others when a drone hit a passenger bus traveling through the eastern Donetsk region, according to Russian state media.
The crash in Romania, a member of NATO and the European Union, marked the first time in the war that a drone has hit a densely populated area in the country and caused injuries.
Sir Keir Starmer has condemned the strike, labeling it a “serious violation of NATO airspace.”
“Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure poses a threat to the security of our entire continent.
“The UK unreservedly condemns such strikes.
“Time and again, Russia has demonstrated it has no regard for civilian life, for international law, or for the sovereignty of its neighbors.
“That must not be allowed to stand.”
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper also condemned the incident, describing it as “extremely dangerous and reckless.”
Ms. Cooper stated she was in contact with Romania’s foreign minister, Oana-Silvia Toiu, adding that the UK “stands united with Romania and allies to defend every inch of NATO territory.”
The incident prompted NATO jets to scramble, with General Secretary Mark Rutte insisting the actions of Russia are "a danger to us all" as he reassured Romanian
President Nicușor Dan that NATO "stands ready to defend every inch of allied territory."
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