Russian ambassador summoned by Romania over strikes on EU mission in Kyiv

The Romanian Foreign Ministry summoned Russia’s Ambassador to Bucharest, Vladimir Lipayev, in response to Russian military strikes on Ukrainian territory during the night of August 27-28.

According to the ministry, cited by Russian media, the attacks targeted civilian locations, including the headquarters of the European Union diplomatic mission in Kyiv. 

In a statement, Romania condemned the strikes, emphasising that they reflect Russia’s “disregard for the principles of international law and its international obligations.” 

The ministry also highlighted that Russian shells have frequently landed near Romania’s border, raising concerns about “serious consequences for national security.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed the strikes against the EU delegation, describing the incident as “an attack on the delegation” itself. Fortunately, no staff members were injured.

The incident prompted other European countries to take diplomatic action. Officials from Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Estonia also summoned Russian representatives. Additionally, 26 EU member states issued a joint statement labelling the attack a war crime, with Hungary being the only EU country that did not condemn Russia.

From the Russian side, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russian armed forces are continuing to target military and paramilitary infrastructure. He further claimed that Ukraine itself is conducting strikes against Russian non-military sites.

By Tamilla Hasanova