The “violation of international law” by a Russian drone that entered Romanian airspace has been condemned by 56 member states and the European Union in a joint statement to the UN Security Council. The statement was delivered by Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Choiu, ahead of the extraordinary Security Council meeting called by Bucharest.
According to the statement, on the night of May 28-29, “a Russian drone carrying explosives entered Romanian airspace in violation of international law. The drone, it said, was part of a “night attack against Ukraine” and “crashed and exploded on the roof of an apartment building in the city of Galati.”
The statement underlines that “for the first time there have been injuries among Romanian citizens”. Two people were injured, while “several residents required medical attention”. The impact caused “fire and extensive damage”, leading to the evacuation of the apartment building.
As noted, airspace violations by Russian drones over Romania and other partners in Central and Eastern Europe “have occurred repeatedly” since the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine and are “a direct consequence of Russia’s escalation tactics in its attacks against Ukraine.”
“The most recent incident has had a direct impact on the safety of innocent civilians in Romania,” the joint statement said. The co-signatories stress that “such behaviour is unacceptable under international law and must stop.”
The statement also refers to recent statements by the UN Secretary General that attacks against Ukraine are causing “serious and far-reaching consequences that must be addressed and contained”. At the same time, it stresses that attacks on civilians “demand condemnation in the strongest possible terms, wherever they occur.”
The countries reiterate their support for a “full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire” and the pursuit of a “comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine”
Romania, the statement said, has called for an extraordinary meeting of the Security Council “in accordance with Articles 34 and 35 of the Charter” to consider “this serious case.”
The statement was co-signed by the Governments of Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, and the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia, Monaco, Montenegro, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Palau, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Portugal, Republic of Korea, the Republic of Moldova, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Vanuatu, the United States, the European Union and Romania.
