A senior Russian official issued a stark warning to European citizens on Friday after a Russian drone crashed into a residential building in Romania, claiming that European governments have effectively entered a conflict with Moscow and cautioning residents to prepare for the consequences.

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and a former Russian president, delivered the message in a post on X following reports that a Russian drone involved in overnight attacks on Ukraine struck an apartment building in eastern Romania, wounding two people.

Addressing citizens across the European Union, Medvedev wrote: “Citizens of EU countries, You should realize your authorities have unilaterally entered into a war with Russia.”

He followed that warning with an ominous message about what Europeans should expect going forward.

“So be vigilant and don’t be surprised by anything. The peaceful sleep is over. But you know who to ask why.”

The incident drew a sharp response from NATO, which condemned the drone strike in Romania, a member of the alliance, and reiterated its commitment to protecting member states from external threats.

Following a conversation with Romanian President Nicușor Dan, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte emphasized the alliance’s determination to strengthen its defenses.

“We will continue to enhance our readiness to deter and defend against any threat, including from drones,” NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte wrote on X after speaking with Romanian President Nicușor Dan.

Rutte also accused Moscow of endangering civilians and expanding the reach of the war beyond Ukraine’s borders.

“Russia’s reckless behaviour is a danger to us all. They continue to target civilians and civilian infrastructure across Ukraine. And last night showed yet again that the implications of their illegal war of aggression don’t stop at the border.”

The latest exchange followed earlier threats from Medvedev aimed at European diplomatic personnel stationed in Kyiv. Those remarks came after Russia warned of a major attack on the Ukrainian capital and urged foreign nationals to leave the country.

Earlier this week, Medvedev criticized the European Union for maintaining its diplomatic presence in Kyiv despite Moscow’s warnings.

“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 Tuesday on X.

The rhetoric comes as Russia has intensified its military campaign against Ukraine, carrying out increasingly heavy missile and drone strikes in recent weeks.

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a large-scale barrage launched last weekend resulted in dozens of deaths across Ukraine.

Meanwhile, diplomatic contacts between Washington and Moscow have continued despite the escalating violence. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a telephone conversation with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday, during which the two discussed the ongoing war and broader regional developments.

The crash in Romania has renewed concerns about the possibility of the conflict spilling into NATO territory, even as both Russia and Western governments continue to exchange increasingly sharp warnings over the course of the war.

{Matzav.com}