Russia Expels Romanian Diplomat in Tit-for-Tat Move

By AFP Aug. 27, 2026 The Romanian Embassy in Moscow. TagMorgan (CC BY-SA 4.0) Russia announced Thursday that it was declaring an employee of the Romanian embassy in Moscow persona non grata in retaliation for Bucharest expelling a Russian diplomat last month. "Romania's Charge d'Affaires ... was handed a note from the ministry declaring an employee of the Romanian Embassy in Moscow persona non grata," Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement. "This measure is a response to the Romanian side's earlier, unjustified decision to declare a member of staff at the Russian Embassy in Bucharest persona non grata," it added. Romania ordered the Russian diplomat's expulsion following a series of airspace violations involving drones. In May, Bucharest accused Moscow of launching a drone that crashed into an apartment building in the city of Galati, injuring two people. Russia rejected the allegations. While dozens of drone incursions have been detected over Romanian territory since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the incident in Galati was the first time a residential building was hit. Read more about: Romania , Diplomacy , Foreign Ministry Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Moscow to Summon Romanian Envoy After Russian Diplomat Expelled Over Drone Incursions Bucharest declared a Russian diplomat persona non grata over repeated drone incursions into Romanian airspace last month. 1 Min read China’s Foreign Minister to Discuss Ukraine War Talks During Visit to Russia Next Week Russia's Foreign Ministry said discussions would cover bilateral relations and high-level contacts, including "at the highest level." 2 Min read Russia Closes Baltic Consulates, Expels Staff The move comes in retaliation to similar Russian consulate closures by Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. U.K. Is Breaking International Law by Withholding Data on Skripal's Daughter, Russia Says The Russian Foreign Ministry said Britain was breaking international law by refusing to provide information on Yulia Skripal, poisoned in England earlier...