Maritime drone explodes in Romania's Constanța Port, no injuries reported

A maritime drone resembling those deployed in the war in Ukraine exploded at Romania’s Constanța Port on June 5, with no injuries reported. The unmanned surface vessel was found in the civilian section of the port near ARSVOM headquarters around 6 a.m. Authorities, including the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI), Coast Guard, and Ministry of Defense, secured the area and evacuated it before the drone self-detonated at approximately 10:30 a.m. The Ministry of Defense confirmed the device was not part of Romanian military exercises or forces. The blast was captured on nearby vessel cameras, prompting the activation of the Red Intervention Plan as a precaution. Head of Romania’s Department for Emergency Situations (DSU), Raed Arafat, ordered two helicopters to search for additional drones along the coastline. Authorities also issued RO-Alert messages advising residents in Constanța and Tulcea counties to avoid coastal areas within 1 km of the shoreline. Media reports later indicated four more drones had been found near the shoreline, raising concerns about further risks. Arafat stated the evacuation was a preventive measure to avoid casualties if more drones were present. The Ministry of Defense described the situation as dynamic, with updates pending as investigations continue. President Nicușor Dan praised the response of Romanian security forces, noting the priority was protecting lives and port infrastructure. He mentioned this incident as the second significant security event on Romania’s Black Sea coast this week, following the discovery of a naval mine between Vama Veche and 2 Mai. Dan also referenced a recent incident where a Russian-made drone crashed into a residential building in Galați, emphasizing the need for ongoing risk assessment.