photo: Costin Andries on X (Twitter)/A maritime drone exploded in Port of Constan?a, Romania
On Friday, a maritime drone connected to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine exploded in Romania’s Port of Constanța after authorities evacuated the area. This is the latest security incident involving a NATO country on the Black Sea.
The unmanned vessel exploded around 10:30 a.m. local time after it was found near Romania’s maritime rescue agency. No one was hurt, but the incident led to a major security response from intelligence, emergency services, the coast guard, and the military.
This explosion happened just days after another drone incident in Romania, when a Russian drone attacking Ukraine crashed into a home in Galați and injured two people, proving that Russia’s war in Ukraine is causing security problems beyond the front lines.
Drone Discovered Inside Constanța Port
According to The Romania Journal, Romania’s Ministry of Defence said the maritime drone was found Friday morning inside the Port of Constanța. This port is the largest on the Black Sea and has been a major route for Ukrainian exports since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022.
Authorities secured and cleared the area before the drone exploded. The ministry later said the vessel self-detonated and confirmed it was not part of Romania’s military or any recent exercises in the Black Sea.
Romanian media said the drone was found near the Romanian Agency for Saving Human Lives at Sea (ARSVOM), close to the port’s shoreline. Early reports said the object was about seven to eight meters long. The discovery led to an immediate emergency response. Authorities activated the Red Intervention Plan, evacuated the area, and started checking for possible risks.
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Search Launched for Additional Drones
What first seemed like a single incident soon turned into a larger security operation. Raed Arafat, who leads Romania’s Department for Emergency Situations (DSU), said authorities could not rule out more maritime drones in the area. Helicopters searched the coast, and emergency alerts went out to people in Constanța and Tulcea counties.
"We are not panicking. These are preventive measures," Arafat told reporters. "If there are other drones, we want to make sure there is not another explosion in an area where people are not evacuated."
Local officials told Romanian media that information from Ukraine suggested up to five maritime drones might have been in the area. One exploded in Constanța, another likely detonated on the Ukrainian side of the Black Sea, and authorities began searching for the rest. Officials said that, at the time of the search, no other drones had been confirmed.
President: A Consequence of Russia’s War Against Ukraine
Romanian President Nicușor Dan said he learned about the incident while traveling to Montenegro for the EU-Western Balkans Summit. In a statement, he praised how quickly Romanian security services responded and said the evacuation helped prevent injuries. He added that protecting lives and key port infrastructure remains the top priority.
The president also called the incident another result of Russia’s war against Ukraine, and said Romania still faces security risks from the conflict on its eastern border. "The circumstances in which the drone reached the port and any additional risks are currently being analysed," Dan said. He added that authorities will keep providing updates as the investigation continues.
Dan also noted that the explosion came after another recent security incident, when a sea mine was found between Vama Veche and 2 Mai on Romania’s Black Sea coast. Along with last week’s drone strike in Galați, these events have increased concerns about the war’s impact on nearby NATO countries.
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Reports Identify Drone as Ukrainian Magura System
Romanian authorities have officially called the vessel a maritime drone "of the type used in the war in Ukraine." However, several Romanian media outlets said military experts identified it as a Magura unmanned surface vessel.
Developed by Ukraine's Defence Intelligence Directorate (HUR), the Magura family of naval drones has become one of Ukraine's most effective naval weapons since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. These remote-controlled vessels have been used often against Russian naval targets, and Ukraine says they have damaged and sunk several Russian warships since 2023.
The newest versions can travel hundreds of kilometers across the Black Sea and carry large explosive payloads. Their success has helped Ukraine challenge Russia’s naval presence, even though Ukraine has a much smaller fleet.
Romanian authorities have not said exactly which model was involved in Friday’s incident, and they are still investigating how the drone entered Romanian waters.
Black Sea Security Concerns Continue to Grow
The explosion in Constanța is a new reminder that countries near Ukraine are facing more risks from Russia’s invasion. Since 2022, Romanian authorities have often found drone debris, sea mines, and other military remains along the Black Sea coast and Danube region. Earlier this week, Romania’s Ministry of Defence said it neutralized another maritime threat in the Black Sea and noted that the Navy has handled several drifting sea mines since the war began.
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A Critical Gateway for Ukrainian and European freight
The incident also drew attention because it happened at one of the most strategically important transport hubs on the Black Sea. The Port of Constanța is not only Romania's largest seaport but also a key logistics gateway linking maritime shipping with European rail networks.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Constanța has become a crucial export route for Ukrainian grain, containers and other cargoes moving to international markets. The port has also played an increasingly significant role in maintaining supply chains disrupted by the war, handling cargo that previously moved through Ukrainian Black Sea ports. As a result, any security incident affecting operations in Constanța inevitably attracts attention from the transport, logistics and rail sectors across Europe.