Ukrainian Maritime Drone Incident in Romania's Black Sea Port
Drone Explosions in Constanta
On Friday, a Ukrainian maritime drone detonated within Romania's Black Sea port of Constanta, following the isolation of the area by local authorities. Additionally, three other Ukrainian sea drones self-destructed outside the port, as reported by Romanian officials. Fortunately, there were no injuries from these incidents.
The Romanian government indicated that the events unfolded around 10:30 AM, after the Romanian Intelligence Service, coast guard, and Defense Ministry identified the drone and took necessary safety precautions. Romanian officials reached out to their Ukrainian counterparts, who confirmed the loss of control over four maritime drones operating in the Black Sea.
According to the government, one drone exploded within the secured port area, while the other three self-detonated in different locations. Two of these drones exploded offshore, and the third detonated outside the port.
Romanian President Nicusor Dan attributed the loss of control to Russian electronic warfare tactics, likely involving signal jamming. He emphasized that the drone's incursion into Romanian territory was a direct result of Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Navy also acknowledged the loss of an unmanned naval vessel during operations in the Black Sea. Ukrainian military officials stated they were collaborating with Romanian authorities to ensure civilian safety.
This incident follows closely on the heels of a previous event where a Russian aerial drone, involved in an attack on Ukraine, veered off course and struck an apartment building in Galati, Romania, injuring two individuals.
In response to Friday's drone incident, Romanian emergency officials initiated precautionary measures. Raed Arafat, head of Romania's Department for Emergency Situations, announced the deployment of helicopters to search for additional drones, and emergency text alerts were sent to local residents.
Authorities temporarily evacuated over 1,300 individuals from various Black Sea beaches and restricted access to affected areas. However, evacuation measures were lifted later in the day after officials assessed that there was no immediate danger.
The Russian Embassy in Bucharest criticized Romania for allegedly providing incomplete information regarding the drones' origins, claiming that more Ukrainian maritime drones were approaching Romanian waters. The embassy characterized the vessels as Ukrainian unmanned maritime systems involved in Black Sea operations and dismissed any attempts to connect the incident to Russia.
This event marks the latest in a series of drone-related security incidents impacting NATO member states since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Just a month prior, Greece filed a formal complaint against Ukraine after an explosive-laden military sea drone was found near a Greek island, confirmed to be of Ukrainian origin. Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias labeled the incident as extremely serious, forwarding the complaint to NATO and the European Union.
Earlier this week, Romanian authorities also reported the destruction of another maritime drone in the Black Sea. Since the onset of the war, Romania's Defense Ministry has stated that the navy has neutralized nine of the 156 sea mines identified in the Black Sea region.