Romania destroys two Russian-made drones in Black Sea near gas project

Romania's military successfully destroyed two drones near the "Neptun Deep" offshore gas project in the Black Sea, identifying them as Russian-made "Gerbera" models. The incident occurred on Tuesday when a civilian vessel working near the platform detected the unmanned aerial vehicles.

Defense Minister Angel Tîlvăr stated that the decision to neutralize the drones was made to ensure the safety of shipping routes and ongoing operations around the platform. The drones were destroyed through controlled detonation. Crucially, Ukraine's armed forces confirmed that the systems did not belong to them, adding a layer of ambiguity to their origin.

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To ensure the safety of the shipping route and during work around the platform, the decision was made to carry out controlled destruction by detonating.

This event underscores the persistent security challenges in the Black Sea. Romania, a NATO member with a 614 km land border with Ukraine, has experienced repeated violations of its airspace by Russian drones over the past four years. Additionally, mines have been observed drifting in key trade and energy routes within the Black Sea.

In July, Romanian F-16 fighter pilots shot down three Russian drones that had entered the country's airspace on consecutive days. Neighboring NATO states Bulgaria and Turkey, along with Romania, have been actively involved in neutralizing over 150 mines found in critical shipping lanes. These three nations have also agreed to expand their joint demining group and incorporate operations focused on protecting critical infrastructure, particularly as they all engage in gas exploration and extraction projects in the region.

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The Defense Ministry contacted Ukrainian partners, who confirmed that these systems do not belong to them.