A maritime drone self-detonated on Friday in the Romanian port of Constanta, near an oil terminal, without causing casualties. The explosion was the second major incident in a populated area in Romania on NATO's eastern flank in just a week, highlighting the growing spillover threat from the war in Ukraine.
The incident occurred as Ukraine accused Russia of jamming one of its vessels before it drifted into Romanian waters. Ukrainian authorities reported that one of their naval drones lost control while on a mission in the Black Sea due to Russian electronic warfare and drifted towards the coast.
The explosion took place a week after authorities said a Russian drone crashed into an apartment building in the southeastern Romanian city of Galati, near the border with Ukraine, injuring two people. This was the first time in the war that a drone has struck a densely populated area in a NATO state.
The Constanta port is Romania's largest, with 156 berths and 32 km of quays, making it a crucial hub for shipments of grain, oil, and oil products. The Black Sea is shared by several countries, including Bulgaria, Georgia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Russia.
Ukraine has been using the Constanta port as an alternative grain export route, as well as for fuel imports. The incident raises concerns about the security of maritime trade in the region.
The Romanian defence ministry said the object self-detonated at 1030 a.m., around four hours after being alerted to its presence. The port was evacuated, and over 1,000 people were removed from beaches on the Black Sea as a precaution.
Restrictions were lifted later in the day after no other risks were detected. However, officials warn that the threat of war to EU's east remains high, with Russia having repeatedly breached Romanian airspace since Moscow attacked Kyiv four years ago.
The incident highlights the growing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stating that Russia's war is increasingly becoming a direct threat to countries on Europe's eastern border.
Romania shares a 650-km land border with Ukraine and has seen Russian drones repeatedly breach its airspace since Moscow attacked Kyiv. The Constanta explosion is a reminder of the need for increased security measures in the region to protect against such incidents.
