Dmitry Medvedev, a senior Russian security official and former president, issued a stark warning to the European Union on Friday, telling citizens that their governments have dragged them into a conflict with Moscow. The threat came after a Russian drone crashed into a residential building in eastern Romania, injuring two people.
“Citizens of EU countries, you should realize your authorities have unilaterally entered into a war with Russia,” Medvedev wrote on social media platform X. “So be vigilant and don’t be surprised by anything. The peaceful sleep is over. But you know who to ask why.”
Romanian authorities confirmed that the drone, part of a Russian overnight assault on Ukraine, struck an apartment block. The incident marks the first time a Russian drone has hit a NATO member state since the full-scale invasion began, escalating tensions between the alliance and the Kremlin.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte condemned the attack, calling it reckless and reaffirming the alliance’s commitment to defend its territory. “We will continue to enhance our readiness to deter and defend against any threat, including from drones,” Rutte said on X after speaking with Romanian President Nicușor Dan. “Russia’s reckless behaviour is a danger to us all. The implications of their illegal war of aggression don’t stop at the border.”
Medvedev’s warning follows a series of escalating threats from Moscow. Earlier this week, he cautioned EU diplomats in Kyiv that they could become casualties, and the Russian Foreign Ministry ordered foreign nationals to leave Ukraine ahead of a predicted large-scale attack. “The EU has said it will maintain its diplomatic presence in Kiev unchanged, despite Russia’s warnings. Well, apparently they’ve got diplomats to spare and need to trim the headcount,” Medvedev wrote on Tuesday.
Russia has intensified its strikes on Ukraine in recent weeks, with a massive missile and drone barrage over the weekend killing dozens, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The attacks have increasingly targeted civilian infrastructure, drawing international condemnation.
In a related development, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday to discuss the conflict. The call came amid warnings from Lavrov that American citizens should flee Kyiv ahead of anticipated Russian strikes, a message that echoes Medvedev’s broader campaign to pressure foreign diplomats and civilians to leave Ukraine.
Analysts say the drone strike on Romania represents a dangerous new phase in the war, testing NATO’s collective defense commitments. The alliance has already bolstered its eastern flank, but the incident underscores the risks of spillover from the conflict. Medvedev’s rhetoric, meanwhile, appears designed to sow fear and division within Europe, framing the war as a direct confrontation between the EU and Russia.
The Kremlin has long accused NATO of waging a proxy war in Ukraine, but Friday’s warning marks one of the most direct threats to European citizens since the invasion began. With no end to the fighting in sight, the incident in Romania highlights the growing potential for the war to escalate beyond Ukraine’s borders.
