Naval Drone Explodes in Romanian Port; Russia Accused in Prior Incident

An explosion rocked Romania's Black Sea port of Constanța on Friday morning after a naval drone was detected near a dock. Authorities immediately evacuated the area as a precaution. The Romanian Ministry of Defense confirmed the explosion, stating that there were no injuries.

The unmanned vessel was found near a pier used by the Romanian Agency for the Rescue of Human Life at Sea (Arsvom). It remains unclear whether the drone was deliberately detonated by bomb disposal experts or exploded on its own. Local media cited witnesses reporting a loud bang heard across various parts of the port.

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If there was one, there could be others.

The incident occurred just days after another significant event in eastern Romania, where a Russian-made Geran-2 drone crashed into a residential building in Galați, causing an explosion and fire that lightly injured two people. Following that incident, Bucharest expelled the Russian consul general, holding Moscow responsible.

Romanian civil protection has declared a coastal evacuation in Constanța due to the potential presence of additional drones. Raed Arafat, head of the Department for Emergency Situations (Dsu), stated that reconnaissance helicopters are patrolling the coast and a Black Hawk helicopter has been deployed from Tulcea. "If there was one, there could be others," Arafat explained, emphasizing that access to the evacuated areas will remain restricted until authorities are certain there is no further danger. He assured the public that these are preventive measures and that they are maintaining contact with the county prefect.

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We are not in a panic: these are preventive measures.