A sea drone has exploded in the civilian port of Constanța on Romania’s Black Sea coast, triggering a major emergency response.
The device detonated at around 10:30 a.m. local time near a pier inside the port. No injuries have been reported.
In a statement, the Romanian Ministry of National Defence said the drone was thought to be “of the type used in the war in Ukraine.” It confirmed the device was not part of the Romanian Army’s inventory and had not been involved in recent military exercises in the Black Sea area.
Ukraine's Navy subsequently confirmed the drone was one of its unmanned surface vessels, which lost control after Russian electronic warfare jamming during operations in the Black Sea operational zone and drifted toward Romanian shores.
The Ukrainian Navy said it proactively shared information with Romanian naval forces once the vessel lost control, with the aim of preventing civilian casualties.
“The area had already been secured and cordoned off by forces from the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Coast Guard, and the Ministry of National Defense; at that time, the object was undergoing assessment and being secured,” the ministry said.
Emergency responders including police, border guards, and firefighters attended the scene. A Black Hawk helicopter was also mobilised.
Romanian President Nicușor Dan said the protection of human life and port infrastructure remained the priority. “Such particularly serious situations are the direct consequences of the war of aggression unleashed by Russia against Ukraine,” he wrote on X.
An investigation is being conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office at the Constanța Court of Appeal.
The incident follows a Russian drone strike on the eastern Romanian city of Galați last week, in which an explosive-laden drone crashed onto the roof of a residential apartment block, injuring two people.
