A marine drone exploded at the port of Constanța, Romania, on 5 June, causing no casualties, Romania's Ministry of National Defense reported.
The incident marks the second time in a week that an unmanned aerial or naval craft linked to the Russian war in Ukraine has detonated on Romanian territory: on 29 May, a Russian strike drone struck the roof of a residential apartment building in Galați, injuring two residents—described at the time as the most serious such incident since Russian drones began crossing into Romania.
Drone discovered and detonates at Constanța
The unmanned vessel was detected on the morning of 5 June, near the headquarters of the Romanian Agency for Maritime Life Rescue. It self-detonated at approximately 10:30 am. The area where the incident occurred was cordoned off by the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Coast Guard, and the Ministry of Defense, which said the site was in the process of being assessed and secured at the time of the report.
The ministry stated that the drone did not belong to the Romanian military and had not taken part in recent exercises organized by the Ministry of National Defense in the Black Sea. No information on the drone's exact type or confirmed origin was released, though the ministry noted that marine drones of this type are used in the war in Ukraine.
Investigation and broader context
The Prosecutor's Office attached to the Constanța Court of Appeal has opened an investigation into the incident.
The Galați strike on 29 May involved a drone Romania's defense ministry identified the same morning as a Russian Geran-2 type. Days later, Romanian President Nicușor Dan said in an interview with the BBC that Russia should change its strike tactics against Ukraine so as not to affect his country—a statement Ukrainska Pravda described as controversial.
