Ukrainian drone explodes in Romanian waters, raising security alarm

Romania, which recently suffered casualties when a Russian-made drone struck an apartment building, faced another security incident Friday as a Ukrainian maritime drone exploded in its territorial waters.

The drone self-destructed around 10:30 a.m. near the port of Constanta on Romania's Black Sea coast, according to Reuters and other international media. No casualties were reported.

Romanian outlet Digi24, citing sources, reported that authorities discovered three additional maritime drones during a subsequent search of the area. Evacuation orders were issued around the port of Constanta and nearby Black Sea beaches.

Romanian authorities said the exploded drone was "of the type used in the Russia-Ukraine war" and confirmed it was not Romanian military equipment nor used in any Black Sea training exercises.

Ukraine acknowledged the drone belonged to its forces but said Russian electronic warfare (EW) systems had knocked it off course.

According to AFP, the Ukrainian Navy said a maritime drone conducting a mission in the Black Sea "came under the influence of enemy electronic warfare systems," lost control and exploded near the Romanian coast.

Ukraine added that it was in close contact with Romanian authorities to prevent further incidents.

A spokesperson for Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the incident "shows that Russia's aggression is not only a threat to Ukraine" but to the broader region.

Tensions are running high in Romania as the latest explosion in its territorial waters came shortly after a Russian drone struck an apartment building there.

On May 28, a Russian drone hit an apartment building in the Galati region of Romania, near the Ukrainian border, sparking a fire and injuring two residents.

Drones from both sides have strayed or lost communications and violated the airspace of Romania and other neighboring countries on multiple occasions during the Russia-Ukraine war. The May 28 strike, however, marked the first time civilians in a NATO and EU member state were injured.

Russia denied any connection to the drone that struck the apartment building, but Romanian authorities concluded it was a Russian-made Geran-2.