MOSCOW, June 25 (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that it is shutting down the Romanian consulate in St Petersburg. The move includes the expulsion of Romania’s consul general, marking a direct retaliatory action following the closure of a Russian mission in the Black Sea city of Constanța.
The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the Romanian ambassador to Moscow to formally deliver the notice. This development stems from a May 2026 incident in the Romanian border city of Galați, where a Russian-made Geran-2 drone crashed into a residential apartment building. The strike resulted in injuries to two civilians, representing the first time a Russian drone incursion into NATO airspace caused human casualties.
Following the drone crash, Romanian President Nicușor Dan ordered the closure of the Russian Consulate General in Constanța and declared the Russian diplomat persona non grata. Russian officials dismissed the accusations regarding the drone as entirely unsubstantiated, maintaining their stance throughout the diplomatic fallout.
Intelligence reports suggest that the explosive-laden drone was struck by Ukrainian air defenses while still over Ukrainian territory. The impact inadvertently altered the drone’s trajectory, causing it to veer across the border into Romanian territory. The resulting debris was identified as a Geran-2, the Russian designation for the Iranian-designed Shahed series of kamikaze drones.
The diplomatic friction between the two nations has deepened significantly since the start of the conflict in Ukraine. Romania has previously reported military debris falling on its soil, but the recent civilian injuries prompted a sharp response. In early June, Romania successfully gathered a coalition of 56 nations at the United Nations to issue a rare joint condemnation against Russia for violating NATO airspace.
“Russia has closed Romania’s consulate in St. Petersburg in retaliation for the closure of a Russian mission in Constanța following a drone incident, highlighting ongoing diplomatic tensions,” the Russian Foreign Ministry stated.
This latest action follows a history of tit-for-tat measures, including a 2025 dispute involving the expulsion of military attachés amid allegations of election interference. The shuttered Russian mission in Constanța was noted for its proximity to a major port and key NATO infrastructure in the Black Sea region.
