A Ukrainian naval drone exploded in Romania’s Black Sea port of Constanța on Friday morning, prompting the evacuation of more than 1,000 people and exposing critical gaps in the country’s coastal defences. The blast occurred at 06:20 local time near piers 77–78, according to the Ministry of National Defence, which confirmed the device was of a type used in the Russian-Ukrainian war. No injuries were reported, but prosecutors in Constanța opened a criminal file into the incident, which President Nicușor Dan described as a “security failure” requiring urgent action.
Speaking after an emergency working session in Constanța on Saturday, Dan acknowledged that standard radar systems are ill-equipped to detect low-flying or maritime drones, stating that “normal radars don’t see maritime drones” . He announced that Romania is accelerating procurement of advanced surveillance equipment, with new systems expected “next month.” The president also ruled out human error in the response, asserting that authorities followed all protocols after receiving intelligence that the drone was set to detonate.
Minister of National Defence Radu Miruță admitted that the military does not conduct routine screening in civilian ports but proposed closer coordination between the navy, coast guard, and border police to improve early warning systems. “Our soldiers are doing wonders with what they have,” Miruță said, “but we need NATO support to adapt to this new threat” . Dan later announced plans to increase patrols along the coastline this summer, with additional crews from the defence ministry, interior ministry, and border police.
The incident has raised questions about how the Ukrainian drone—initially believed to have veered off course—reached Romanian waters. Dan dismissed speculation that it targeted a vessel from Russia’s “ghost fleet,” noting the port regularly hosts commercial traffic from Novorossiysk to Rompetrol. He promised a full report within seven to ten days, though opposition party AUR warned that past investigations had been withheld, citing the annulled December 2024 elections report as a precedent .
The explosion comes amid escalating drone warfare across the region. On Saturday alone, Russian forces launched attacks on Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, and Kharkiv, injuring civilians and damaging infrastructure. Ukraine, in turn, targeted St. Petersburg with over 80 drones during an economic forum, forcing residents indoors for the first time since the war began. Dan reiterated Romania’s neutrality, explaining that shooting down drones bound for Ukraine could risk transforming the country into a co-belligerent under international law .
Ukrainian drone explodes in Romanias Constana port, exposing coastal defence gaps