Romania destroys sea drone near offshore gas site

A Romanian F-16 fighter jet successfully neutralized a sea drone laden with explosives near the "Neptun Deep" offshore gas extraction project in the Black Sea. The incident prompted strong condemnation from Romanian officials, who labeled it an "irresponsible escalation" by Russia.

Romania's Defense Minister, Radu Miruca, stated on Facebook that the drone was armed and confirmed it did not originate from Ukraine. The Ministry of Defense reported that a civilian vessel spotted the drone at 6:28 a.m. near the gas project, which currently employs hundreds of people and is slated to begin gas extraction in 2027. Two F-16 fighter jets were dispatched, with one successfully destroying the drone.

“

This is an irresponsible escalation by Russia.

This event is part of a recent pattern of drone incursions into Romanian airspace. NATO fighter jets have downed four drones in Romania recently, with the latest incident occurring last weekend. Earlier this week, a drone entered Romanian airspace approximately 13 kilometers east of Galați, eventually crashing in an uninhabited area and causing a fire that later extinguished. No one was injured in that incident.

The drone activity has heightened regional tensions, particularly following a massive Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine that resulted in at least 13 deaths in Kyiv and its surrounding areas. In response to that attack, Poland scrambled its military aircraft. The "Neptun Deep" project's proximity to the ongoing conflict underscores the strategic importance of the Black Sea region and the potential risks associated with its energy infrastructure.

“

The drone was equipped with explosives and did not originate from Ukraine.