The Ukrainian Navy reported that a sea drone that exploded in Constanta, Romania, deviated from its intended route due to Russian electronic interference. This incident occurred while the drone was operating in the Black Sea, as stated by military authorities.
Incident Overview
On Friday morning, around 10:30 a.m. local time, the naval drone detonated. The explosion happened in Constanta, a port city on Romania’s southeastern coast. Ukrainian officials noted that they had alerted the Romanian Navy to minimize civilian risks.
Details from the Romanian Ministry of National Defence
The Romanian defense ministry confirmed that the drone was not part of their military inventory and had not participated in any recent operations in the Black Sea. The area around the explosion was promptly secured by the Romanian Intelligence Service and Coast Guard.
- No injuries were reported after the drone detonation.
- Emergency services, including police and firefighters, responded to the incident.
- A Black Hawk helicopter was deployed for additional support.
Related Drone Incidents
Romanian President Nicușor Dan noted that three additional drones exploded the same day, two of which occurred approximately 145 kilometers east of Constanta. None of these incidents resulted in casualties or extensive damage, indicating that there was no immediate threat to local residents or infrastructure.
International Reaction
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, expressed solidarity with Romania, highlighting that Russia’s actions in Ukraine pose threats to neighboring countries. She reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to protecting its member states from these dangers.
This incident follows a previous occurrence where a Russian drone crashed in Galați, Romania, leading to a fire and two injuries in a residential area. Further investigations into the Constanta drone explosion are still underway.
