The Russian Embassy in Bucharest sent home 40 of its employees and their family members after Romania urged it to reduce personnel to "reflect the current level of bilateral relations, in the context of the Russian Federation starting the war of aggression against Ukraine."

Thus, the total number of diplomatic and technical-administrative posts of the Russian Federation in Romania was reduced by 61%, and the actual number of personnel by 55.5%, Agerpres reported.

The 40 employees of the Russian Embassy left Romania on board a civil aircraft belonging to a Russian airline (pictured). According to Digi24, the departure was delayed for about six hours as the aircraft proved insufficiently large to carry the large volume of luggage of the 40 passengers.

Russian aircraft are not allowed in EU airspace as a sanction for the war in Ukraine. However, the Bucharest authorities made a derogation for the aircraft that could take over Embassy employees and their families, declared undesirable.

iulian@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Inquam Photos/Octav Ganea)