A Ukrainian naval drone detonated near an oil terminal in Romania's Black Sea port of Constanta. Ukraine stated the drone lost control due to Russian electronic warfare. Romania's defense ministry confirmed the incident, which caused no casualties or significant damage.
A Ukrainian naval drone detonated near an oil terminal in Romania's Black Sea port of Constanta on Friday. Ukraine's navy stated that one of its naval drones lost control due to Russian electronic warfare during a mission and drifted towards the Romanian coast. The detonation occurred around 10:30 a.m. local time, approximately four hours after its presence was noted. Following the incident, the port was evacuated, over 1,000 people were removed from nearby beaches and the Danube Delta as a precaution, and ships and two helicopters surveyed the area for additional drones. Restrictions were lifted later in the day after no further risks were detected. This event follows a prior incident a week earlier where a Russian drone crashed into an apartment building in Galati, injuring two people. Romania, a NATO and EU member, shares a 650-km border with Ukraine and has experienced repeated Russian drone incursions and floating mines in the Black Sea. Earlier in the week, Romania's navy detonated a Russian anti-landing mine. Ukrainian officials stated that the incident underscores the threat posed by Russia's aggression to the entire region. Ukraine has blamed Russian electronic warfare for causing its drones to stray off course into NATO airspace on multiple occasions.
The incident highlights the escalating risks to NATO territory from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, particularly concerning drone incursions and the potential for miscalculation or escalation.