Russia expels Romanian diplomat from Moscow in reciprocal move

diplomatic expulsion persona non grata Russia-Romania relations drone incursions reciprocity

Russia has declared an employee of the Romanian Embassy in Moscow persona non grata, a move described by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a reciprocal response to Romania's previous decision. On August 27, 2026, Liliana Burda, Romania's chargé d'affaires in Moscow, was summoned to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to receive the official note.

The diplomatic tension stems from an incident in late July 2026. Romania had declared a Russian diplomat in Bucharest persona non grata after the Romanian Army shot down three Russian drones that had entered its airspace without authorization between July 24 and 26. The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the Russian measure is a direct reaction to that decision.

This incident marks a continued escalation in bilateral relations between the two nations, following a history of similar diplomatic expulsions. The Russian side characterized Romania's initial move as unfounded, while Bucharest maintains the action was necessary due to violations of its national sovereignty.

Entities

Bucharest · Japan · Liliana Burda · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation · Moldova · Moscow · Romania · Russia

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 12 SOURCES] Russia declared an employee of the Romanian Embassy in Moscow persona non grata. nordinfo.md · www.ziarulnational.md · www.sbctv.gr · tvrmoldova.md · vremeanoua.ro · +7 more
[● 4 SOURCES] Liliana Burda, Romania's chargé d'affaires in Moscow, was summoned to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 27, 2026. nordinfo.md · vremeanoua.ro · zcj.ro · www.mediafax.ro
[● 12 SOURCES] Romania expelled a Russian diplomat after the Romanian Army shot down three Russian drones in its airspace between July 24 and 26, 2026. nordinfo.md · www.ziarulnational.md · www.sbctv.gr · tvrmoldova.md · vremeanoua.ro · +7 more
[● 2 SOURCES] The Russian diplomat expelled from Bucharest was given five days to leave the country. www.dailybusiness.ro · wydarzenia.interia.pl
[● 9 SOURCES] The expulsion of the Romanian diplomat is a reciprocal measure following Romania's decision on July 27. nordinfo.md · www.ziarulnational.md · tvrmoldova.md · vremeanoua.ro · www.wowbiz.ro · +4 more