Romanian President Nicușor Dan stated that the country's Armed Forces acted in accordance with established procedures and had orders to shoot down the Russian drone as soon as conditions would allow doing so without risk to the civilian population or infrastructure.
This was reported by Agerpres.
"Today I convened a meeting of the Supreme Council of National Defence to discuss the consequences 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 against the Russian Federation," Dan wrote on social media.
According to him, "the unprecedented nature of this event demands a resolute, coordinated, and proportionate response — at the national level, at the level of our allies, and at the international level."
"I state with full resolve that all responsibility for this incident lies with the Russian Federation. What happened today in Galați is a direct consequence of the war of aggression launched by Russia against Ukraine, of Moscow's irresponsible and indiscriminate use of these weapons systems in immediate proximity to NATO's borders, and of its systematic disregard for international law. There is no doubt whatsoever as to the perpetrator and the cause of this aggression," the Romanian leader emphasised.
He stressed that Romania's Armed Forces acted in accordance with the procedures established for such situations, with a clear order to shoot down the drone as soon as conditions would allow the operation to be carried out without risk of civilian casualties or infrastructure damage.
"After the 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 the conditions that would have allowed its destruction without significant risk to civilian safety were not met," the President stated.
He added that Romania's response "is resolute and multi-directional." Dan noted that he had informed all NATO allies and EU partners of the incident, and that communication with allied military structures is ongoing in real time.
Romania has also formally requested that allies deploy additional counter-UAV assets on its territory in order to strengthen the country's defence and that of the Alliance's eastern flank, in accordance with the directives of the Supreme Allied Commander.
Romania will also formally notify the UN Security Council of this "brutal and repeated violation of international law by the Russian Federation," Dan stated.
