Romanian Defense Ministry passes responsibility for Black Sea drone incident

Romania's Ministry of National Defense (MApN) has deflected responsibility for monitoring naval traffic in the Black Sea, stating it falls under the purview of the Romanian Naval Authority (ANR). This clarification comes after a maritime drone exploded in Constanța Port on June 5.

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The responsibility for monitoring naval traffic in the Black Sea falls within the competence of the Romanian Naval Authority.

The MApN confirmed it was alerted at 6:20 AM about a maritime drone sighted in Berth 78 of Constanța Port. The drone detonated approximately four hours later, around 10:30 AM, in the vicinity of the Romanian Maritime Search and Rescue Agency. Fortunately, the explosion caused no casualties, though the area was already secured by intelligence services, coast guard, and military forces.

This incident has raised questions about how an unmanned vessel could reach a strategic port area and why it wasn't neutralized before detonating. The MApN emphasized that the drone does not belong to the Romanian Army and is not linked to recent military exercises in the Black Sea region. Initial assessments suggest it is a type of maritime drone used in the conflict in Ukraine.

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The drone does not belong to the Romanian Army and was not involved in recent exercises organized in the Black Sea area.

The investigation into the incident is being coordinated by the Prosecutor's Office attached to the Constanța Court of Appeal. Authorities issued two Ro-Alert messages and ordered preventive evacuations along the Constanța coast due to the possibility of other similar devices being in the area. The head of the Department for Emergency Situations (DSU), Raed Arafat, warned that other drones might be present near the shore.

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There is a possibility that other drones may exist. There is a risk that if they are in other areas, the same thing could happen. That is why we are issuing the preventive evacuation message.