A sea drone reportedly exploded in Constanta, Romania’s primary port city on the Black Sea coast, leading to a significant evacuation. The incident occurred at the port of Constanta around 10:30 am EEST (8:30 am UK time), with a large column of smoke rising into the sky as the area was sealed off.
According to the Romanian Defence Ministry, the drone involved in the explosion is believed to be similar to those used in the conflict in Ukraine, specifically identified as a Magura-type drone by local media sources. This follows a recent incident where a drone, confirmed by NATO to be of Russian origin, crashed into a residential building in Galati, Romania, prompting international outcry and accusations of violating NATO airspace.
Vladimir Putin, while stating that the origin of the drone was still uncertain, urged Romania to provide the drone for an impartial investigation. Our Defence Editor, Chris Hughes, suggested that the explosion of the sea drone could be linked to an error on the part of Ukraine, as reports from Romanian media point to the drone being a Magura V5 model, a sophisticated Ukrainian unmanned surface vessel frequently deployed in groups.
Following the explosion, residents of a section of Constanta were issued an “Extreme Alert” RO-Alert message urging them to evacuate within a 1 km radius of the port and seek shelter immediately. Authorities swiftly secured and cordoned off the area, with forces from various Romanian agencies on-site for assessment and containment.
The Romanian Defence Ministry confirmed that the sea drone was not part of the national army’s inventory and that no recent military exercises had occurred in the Black Sea region. Described as a marine drone of Ukrainian origin carrying explosives, the device’s detonation adds to growing concerns about the potential spillover of the Russia-Ukraine conflict across NATO borders.
The Red Intervention Plan was activated by Romanian authorities, indicating the highest level of emergency response readiness, following the discovery of the sea drone before it exploded near a maritime rescue agency headquarters in Constanta. Law enforcement agencies swiftly responded, implementing security measures and launching investigations before the device detonated at a dock in the port.
Despite the intense explosion, there were no reported injuries, as confirmed by Bogdan Toma, spokesperson for Romania’s Department for Emergency Situations. The incident underscores the escalating tensions and security challenges faced by Romania and neighboring countries in the region.
