Britain may deploy RAF fighter jets to Romania after Russian drone strike

Britain may deploy RAF fighter jets to Romania after a Russian drone struck an apartment building and injured two people.

John Healey, the Defence Secretary, said the drone strike in Galati was a sign the Russia-Ukraine war was "spreading beyond" its borders.

The UK currently has four RAF Typhoons in Romania on a four-month Nato air policing mission.

On social media, Mr Healey said: "Russia’s reckless and illegal actions in Ukraine are spreading beyond their borders.

"The UK stands firm with Romania. RAF jets are already deployed to Romania to support Nato air policing. We will work with Nato secretary general to help strengthen that presence if needed."

A 53-year-old woman and a 14-year-old boy were taken to hospital after the strike in the early hours, and a further two people were treated for shock at the scene.

It is believed they are the first two people to have been directly injured by Russian weaponry inside a Nato member state since it was founded in 1949.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Russia entering Nato's airspace was "extremely dangerous and reckless", adding that Britain stood by Romania and allies.

Sir Keir Starmer also condemned the attack and called it a "serious violation".

He said: "Time and again, Russia has shown it has no regard for civilian life, for international law or for the sovereignty of its neighbours. That must not be allowed to stand."

Two F-16 Fighter Jets and a helicopter were scrambled by the Romanian military in response to the attack from Russia, and emergency alerts issued to evacuate residents of the affected area.

Romania's defence ministry identified the projectile as a Russian Geran-2 drone, and claimed the drone was intended to target Ukraine.

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The strike has raised concerns over Nato's vulnerability to low-flying, low-cost drones, which are able to evade air defence systems, but can be intercepted by cheap projectiles launched from the ground.

Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and prime minister, said European countries who militarily support Ukraine should prepare for the war to encroach into their territories.

On social media, he said: "Let them prepare themselves - this will keep happening. A war is under way! And citizens of EU states, as the population of countries at war, will not be able to sleep peacefully.

"This is only child's play so far!"

Vladimir Putin also weighed in on the crash, suggesting it could have been a Ukrainian drone.

"No one can say what the origin of this or that drone is until an examination has been carried out," he said at a news conference in Kazakhstan on Friday.

Mark Rutte, Nato's chief, said: "Russia’s reckless behaviour is a danger to us all. Last night showed yet again that the implications of their illegal war of aggression don’t stop at the border."

And Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country was "ready to support" Romania.