The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement regarding the explosion of a naval drone in the Romanian port of Constanța, emphasizing that the incident underscores the broader regional threat posed by Russian aggression.
Georgiy Tikhiy, a spokesperson for the Ministry, noted on social media, “This incident once again demonstrates that Russia’s ongoing full-scale aggression poses a threat not only to Ukraine but to the entire region. Effective coordination is crucial to mitigate its impact on neighboring countries.” He also indicated that the Ukrainian Navy had promptly informed Romanian authorities about the military drone, which lost control due to Russian jamming efforts.
Following the explosion, which occurred on June 5 at approximately 10:30 AM local time at Pier 78 near the Romanian Maritime Rescue Agency, both nations’ relevant authorities have been in close contact to manage the situation. The Romanian Ministry of Defense confirmed that the drone was of a type utilized in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, although it did not specify the drone’s country of origin. An investigation has been initiated.
Raed Arafat, head of Romania’s Department for Emergency Situations, reported to Digi 24 that the Maritime Rescue Agency had alerted them about the drone around 6:00 AM. The area was secured, and evacuation procedures were implemented once the risk of an explosion became apparent.
In a related statement, the Ukrainian Navy confirmed that during operations in the Black Sea operational zone, one of their unmanned surface vessels lost control due to enemy electronic warfare measures and drifted near Romanian shores. The Navy assured that they provided the necessary information to Romanian military officials to prevent civilian casualties.
This explosion follows a recent incident in which a Russian drone crashed into a residential building in Galați, southeastern Romania, injuring two individuals. Additionally, in May, a naval drone was detected near the shores of Lefkada, Greece. An assessment by Greece’s National Defense General Staff confirmed that the drone belonged to Ukraine and was employed against vessels associated with Russia’s “shadow fleet.” In response to this incident, Athens officially protested to Kyiv in early June.
The explosion of a naval drone in Romania highlights the escalating regional threats stemming from the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Ukrainian officials stress the need for effective coordination among neighboring countries to address these risks.