Romania, a NATO neighbor of Ukraine, lies all too near Russia’s strikes on Danube ports.

His thatched-roof shack on the financial institution of the Danube River simply 200 yards from Ukraine has no operating water, and attending to it includes ready for a ferry and a bumpy journey on grime roads.

Last week, nevertheless, the farmyard dwelling of Gheorge Puflea, 71, turned a chunk of attention-grabbing actual property because of its undesirable standing as the primary property in NATO territory broken in a Russian assault geared toward Ukraine.

The drone missile assault, carried out earlier than daybreak on Aug. 2, hit a Ukrainian cargo port throughout the river, nevertheless it was so shut that shock waves from the explosions shattered home windows in Plauru, a tiny hamlet with only a dozen tumbledown properties on the Romanian aspect of the Danube.

The sound of the blasts and breaking glass woke Mr. Puflea from his sleep and despatched him dashing outdoors in a panic.

“At first I thought it was a thunderstorm,” he stated, recalling how he had taken shelter underneath a pear tree in his yard after which watched in horror as “what looked like a war movie played out right on my doorstep.”

The evening sky crackled with Ukrainian antiaircraft hearth, and large fireballs rose from three Ukrainian port buildings blasted by Russian drones. Every week earlier Russia had attacked Reni, one other Ukrainian port throughout the Danube from Romania.

Ukraine’s essential Danube ports — Izmail and Reni — have additionally change into a probably perilous tripwire, as they lie so near Romania, a member of NATO, and due to this fact to territory lined by the alliance’s dedication to collective safety. A Russian drone or missile flying a couple of yards off target would threat dragging the United States and its allies right into a direct navy confrontation with Moscow.