Bucharest, June 5: A maritime drone exploded at Romania’s major port, Constanta, on Friday morning. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported. This information was confirmed by the Ministry of Defense.
According to the ministry, the explosion occurred around 10:30 AM local time. Following the incident, the area was secured and sealed off. Teams from the Romanian Intelligence Service, Coast Guard, and the Ministry of Defense responded promptly.
The ministry clarified that the drone was not part of the Romanian military’s equipment and had not been used in any recent military exercises in the Black Sea region.
Romanian President Nicolae Ciucă stated on social media platform X that security agencies and law enforcement had evacuated the area in a timely manner, preventing any loss of life.
He emphasized, “Our priority was to ensure the safety of human lives and protect the port’s infrastructure, and this will remain our focus. An investigation is underway to determine how the drone reached the port and the potential risks involved.”
President Ciucă noted that as a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and with access to the Black Sea, Romania will continue to take all necessary measures to safeguard its citizens and national interests in collaboration with allied countries.
This incident marks the second significant security event off Romania’s coast this week. Previously, a sea mine was discovered between Vama Veche and 2 Mai, and another drone-related incident occurred in the Galati area.
Ursula von der Leyen described this event as a direct consequence of the Russia-Ukraine war. She wrote on X that just a week ago, a drone collided with a residential building in Galati, and now a maritime drone has reached Constanta port.
Von der Leyen stated, “This is a direct impact of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, and it is becoming an increasing security threat for countries along the eastern border of the European Union.”
Currently, Romanian security agencies are investigating the drone’s origin, its route, and other aspects related to the incident.
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