A Ukrainian sea drone exploded at the Port of Constanța in Romania on Friday, triggering a major security alert but causing no casualties.
According to Ukrainian naval authorities, the unmanned maritime drone lost control while carrying out operations in the Black Sea after its navigation systems were reportedly disrupted by Russian electronic warfare measures. The drone subsequently drifted toward the Romanian coastline before reaching the port area.
Romanian authorities said the drone was discovered early in the morning near the civilian port of Constanța, one of the country’s most important Black Sea ports. Security forces immediately isolated the area, evacuated nearby sections of the port and surrounding beaches, and launched emergency response measures.
The drone later self-detonated around 10:30 a.m. local time. Officials confirmed that no injuries or fatalities were recorded, although the incident sparked concerns due to its proximity to oil and grain terminal facilities within the port.
Ukraine stated that it had informed Romanian naval authorities after losing contact with the drone in an effort to prevent civilian casualties. Romanian officials confirmed that the device was not part of the country’s military equipment and had not been involved in any Romanian military exercises.
The incident comes amid heightened regional tensions following several drone-related security breaches near Romania’s border with Ukraine. Just last week, a Russian drone involved in attacks on Ukraine reportedly entered Romanian airspace and crashed into a residential building in the city of Galați, injuring two people.
Romanian President Nicușor Dan and European officials condemned the latest incident, describing it as another consequence of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and its spillover risks for neighboring NATO member states.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the explosion while monitoring the Black Sea region for any additional unmanned vessels that may pose a threat to civilian infrastructure or maritime traffic.
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