A Ukrainian naval drone has exploded in Romania’s Black Sea port of Constanta, as European leaders warned the war in Ukraine is becoming a “direct threat” to countries along the EU’s eastern border.
Friday’s blast came just a week after another aerial drone crashed into an apartment building in Romania, injuring two people.
The Romanian Defence Ministry said the latest drone self-detonated in the port of Constanta at around 10:30am, local time, after the area had been secured and isolated by authorities. No casualties were reported.
No casualties were reported after the drone explosion, which Ukraine said it had warned Romania about in advance. (AP: Observator Antenna 1)
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the war was “increasingly becoming a direct threat to countries on our Eastern border” in a social media post.
Romania, an EU and NATO member, has reported dozens of airspace breaches since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
The latest incident comes as Russia has intensified its aerial campaign against Ukraine in recent weeks, launching a major attack on Kyiv on Tuesday that killed 22 people and injured dozens of others.
Ukraine responded by striking an oil export terminal in St Petersburg hours before Russian President Vladimir Putin’s annual economic forum got underway on Wednesday.
Flames rise from a residential building after a drone crash in the Romanian city of Galati on May 29, 2026. (AFP: Romanian Department for Emergency Situations)
European Council President António Costa also said the EU “condemns the repeated violations of airspace of Member States and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the security of all Member States”.
“These incidents are a direct consequence of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,” he wrote on social media.
Ukraine says Russia ‘jammed’ its drone
Ukraine’s navy said the naval drone had been operating in the Black Sea when it lost control as a result of Russian electronic warfare and drifted towards the Romanian coast.
Ukraine contacted Romania to warn them and prevent casualties, it added.
Romania’s deputy interior minister said helicopters were deployed to search for more drones, but no further threats were detected.
More than 1,300 people were evacuated from several Black Sea beaches as a precaution.
Romanian President Nicusor Dan said that law enforcement and security services “acted quickly and preventively” to protect both lives and port infrastructure.
“With a military conflict on the border, it is obvious that the security environment we are in is a sensitive one, which is why we will maintain a high level of vigilance,” he said.
Latest in a series of NATO border incidents
The incidents are the latest in a series of drone incursions — from both Russia and Ukraine — to hit a NATO member since the war began in 2022.
Romania’s President Nicusor Dan visiting the apartment block that was struck by a drone in Galati. (AFP: Romanian Department for Emergency Situations)
NATO said the alliance was monitoring the situation after being informed by Romania on the incident.
“We continue to closely coordinate with the Romanian authorities,” a NATO official said.
Romanian forces destroyed another maritime drone in the Black Sea on Wednesday.
The Defence Ministry said that the Romanian navy has neutralised nine of the 156 sea mines in the Black Sea basin since the war began.
ABC/wires
