Medvedev warns Europe after Romania drone crash

Russia’s Dmitry Medvedev said Europe should expect more drone incidents after Romania reported a Russian drone hit an apartment block. He also said Moscow would respond to Romania’s move to close the Russian consulate in Constanta.

MOSCOW: Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, said on Friday that European countries should expect more drone-related incidents after Romania reported that a Russian drone struck an apartment building during an attack on neighbouring Ukraine.

His remarks came after Nato accused Moscow of reckless conduct and said it was ready to defend every part of allied territory. Romania, a Nato member, said a Russian drone had crashed into a residential block on its soil during the overnight assault.

Medvedev said it still had to be determined which country the drone belonged to, but argued that European leaders should stop expressing indignation over the episode because, in his view, they were directly involved in a war against Russia.

In a statement, he said:

Let them get ready: this will continue to happen.

He added:

There is a war going on! And the citizens of EU states, as the population of the belligerent countries, will not be able to sleep peacefully.

Medvedev also said such incidents were especially likely in places where drones were being produced for Ukraine. Referring to military support provided to Kyiv, he said European-made drones, their spare parts and other weapons, along with intelligence, were being used in attacks on Russia every day.

He said those attacks were causing damage to residential buildings in Russia and leading to civilian deaths. In the same statement, Medvedev said:

After all, European drones, spare parts for them, and other weapons, not to mention intelligence, are used in attacks on our country every day. As a result of their actions, residential buildings are being damaged, in which our civilians are dying.

Earlier on Friday, Russia’s state news agency Tass reported that President Vladimir Putin had been informed about the drone incident in Romania. Separately, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow would respond quickly after Romania decided to shut the Russian consulate in Constanta in retaliation.