A drone strike has rocked the Romanian city of Tulcea, situated on the Danube Delta close to the Ukrainian border, according to a breaking report from local authorities. The attack, which occurred in the early hours of the morning, has left residents in a state of alarm, with one local telling journalists that “no-one feels safe.” The strike is the latest in a series of incidents that have brought the war in neighbouring Ukraine closer to NATO territory.
The Romanian Ministry of National Defence has confirmed the strike, stating that drones were detected entering Romanian airspace and that air defence systems were engaged. The impact site is in an uninhabited area on the outskirts of Tulcea, but the psychological toll on the populace is evident. “We are living on edge,” said a shopkeeper in the city centre. “We hear explosions and alerts. Our government says we are safe, but we see the reality.”
The European Union and NATO have both reacted with concern, urging restraint and calling for a full investigation. A NATO spokesperson described the strike as “irresponsible and dangerous” but noted that there is no indication of a deliberate attack on the alliance. Romania has been a key transit hub for Western military aid to Ukraine, and the proximity of the strike raises questions about the effectiveness of air defence shielding civilian areas.
The incident underscores the broader strategic implications of the conflict’s spillover. While Romanian officials maintain that their military is capable of defending the country’s airspace, analysts point to the difficulty of intercepting low-flying drones along a border that stretches hundreds of kilometres. “This is not a question of capability but capacity,” said a defence analyst at a Bucharest think tank. “Romania has limited resources to cover such a wide area, and Ukraine’s own air defences are strained, so incursions are a persistent risk.”
For the residents of Tulcea, the strike is a visceral reminder that the war is not confined to Ukraine. “We heard the drones before the explosion,” said a local teacher. “My children ask if it will happen again. I don’t know what to tell them.” The Romanian government has announced increased security measures, including additional surveillance and mobile air defence teams, but the sense of vulnerability lingers.
The political calculus in Bucharest is delicate. President Klaus Iohannis has reiterated Romania’s commitment to NATO’s collective defence, but there is little appetite for escalation. The strike comes ahead of a planned high-level meeting between Romanian and Ukrainian officials to discuss security cooperation. Meanwhile, Moscow has denied involvement, though the pattern of drone attacks along the border suggests a calculated pressure campaign.
In the broader context, this incident is part of a series of aerial incursions into NATO airspace over the past year. While alliance officials have downplayed most as accidental, the frequency has increased. The Tulcea strike may force a reassessment of the risk calculus. For now, the city remains on edge, with residents bracing for what comes next. The refrain among them is simple but stark: “No-one feels safe.”
