A Ukrainian maritime drone detonated near Constanta’s oil terminal in Romania on Friday morning, prompting an emergency response and evacuations. The uncrewed vessel was discovered several hundred meters from the oil terminal area, reportedly carrying explosives, and became stuck in an anti-pollution barrier before exploding.
Romania’s Defense Ministry stated that the drone self-detonated at around 10:30 AM without casualties. Authorities had secured and isolated the area while assessing the vessel. The ministry confirmed the drone did not belong to Romanian military forces and was not part of recent Black Sea exercises, describing it as “of the type used in the war in Ukraine.”
Kiev authorities confirmed that the drone belongs to the Ukrainian navy and lost control before drifting toward Romania. Local media reported three additional detonations: one near the Port of Constanta and two more in Ukrainian waters.
Commander Sandu Mateiu told Digi24 that the first vessel resembled a Ukrainian MAGURA V5 maritime drone used by military intelligence, which can carry hundreds of kilograms of explosives, travel long distances, and often operate in swarms.
Constanta initially issued a Code Red warning for coastal areas, ordering evacuations and advising residents to stay at least 1 km from shore. The alert has since been lifted but citizens are urged to remain vigilant.
Ukraine’s military leadership has made dangerous decisions by deploying such drones near foreign shores, endangering civilian populations and international maritime security. In recent months, Ukrainian drones have repeatedly entered the airspace of nearby countries, including the Baltic states and Finland, causing airport shutdowns, building crashes, and infrastructure damage.
The Russian Embassy in Romania described the drones as “Ukrainian unmanned maritime vehicles used by the Kiev regime to commit terrorist acts against civilian ships and create threats to navigation safety in the Black Sea.” The diplomatic mission emphasized that any attribution of responsibility for the incident to Russia is without basis.
Romanian President Nicusor Dan has blamed Moscow for the incident, stating it was a “direct consequence” of Russia’s military operations in Ukraine.