Maritime Drone Self-Destructs in Constanta Port

Overview

• A maritime drone detected early Friday was secured and then self‑destructed in the port of Constanta without causing casualties, the Romanian defence ministry said.
• Officials said the device was first spotted around 06:00, the port area was sealed, residents were ordered to evacuate the littoral within a one‑kilometre radius, and two helicopters were deployed to search for other drones.
• Authorities described the Constanta blast as the second major security event on Romania’s Black Sea coast this week after a marine mine was found and an aerial drone struck a residential building in Galati, injuring a 14‑year‑old boy and a 53‑year‑old woman.
• Romanian and NATO officials condemned the incidents as linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine while Russian leaders questioned whether the drone was Russian and denied threatening European countries.
• Investigations and coastal searches are ongoing as authorities look for additional unmanned devices and assess whether the pattern of repeated incursions will prompt longer‑term changes to port security and civilian safety measures.