𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Sir Keir Starmer has condemned a Russian drone strike that injured two people in Romania on Thursday night. The drone entered Romanian airspace for four minutes before hitting a block of flats in the city of Galati, triggering radar and land anti-air defences.

The Prime Minister called it a “serious violation of NATO airspace” and called for members of the alliance to “stand shoulder to shoulder” against “continued Russian aggression”. He said: “Last night a Russian drone entered Romanian airspace and hit a residential building, injuring civilians.

“This is a serious violation of NATO airspace. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure threatens the security of our entire continent. The UK unreservedly condemns such strikes.

“Time and again, Russia has shown it has no regard for civilian life, for international law, or for the sovereignty of its neighbours. That must not be allowed to stand.

“We stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine, with Romania, and with all our NATO allies in the face of continued Russian aggression.”

Two F-16 fighter jets were scrambled after the drones were detected, and residents in affected areas received alert messages on their phones.

It said: “One of these drones entered Romanian airspace, was tracked by radar as far as the southern part of the city of Galati, and crashed onto the roof of an apartment building, with the impact triggering a fire.”

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper also called it “extremely dangerous and reckless”. She added: “The UK strongly condemns this grave escalation that puts lives at risk.”