Romanian president Nicușor Dan has declared a Russian consul in the southeastern seaside city of Constanța “a persona non grata” – effectively telling him to leave the country – with the consulate expected to shut down, The Guardian reports.
The measure comes in response to a Russian drone incursion that damaged an apartment block in Galați, injuring two people.
Speaking after a meeting of the Supreme Council of National Defence, Dan said the drone was part of a “swarm” of 43 drones aimed at targets in Ukraine. He also criticised some Romanian politicians for trying to minimise Russia’s responsibility for the incident.
Dan said the united response of Romania’s Nato allies is a powerful show of solidarity, and announced the alliance would relocate some of its air defence equipment to Romania as an interim solution until Romania upgrades its domestic systems, also using funds from the EU’s Safe scheme.
“Some has already arrived, others are due to arrive, and in the discussion I had with the Nato secretary general, I insisted on speed and he was in absolute agreement that this equipment should reach Romania as quickly as possible.”
