Ukrainian Drone Explodes Near Romanian Oil Terminal After Signal Loss

A maritime drone drifted into the Romanian port of Constanta on Friday, detonating just 500 meters from a critical oil terminal. The incident occurred after Ukrainian forces lost control of the vessel, which they claim was disabled by Russian electronic jamming before it crossed into Romanian territorial waters.

The Romanian defense ministry confirmed the explosion took place at 10:30 a.m. local time, triggering an immediate security response. Authorities evacuated more than 1,000 beachgoers from the surrounding area while naval vessels and helicopters scoured the coastline for additional threats. By mid-afternoon, officials lifted restrictions after finding no further drones in the vicinity.

Constanta serves as a vital logistics hub for Ukraine, facilitating grain exports and fuel imports essential to the war effort. This event follows a separate incident last week in Galati, where a Russian drone struck an apartment building, leaving two people injured. While Russian officials denied responsibility for the Constanta explosion, the proximity of the blast to energy infrastructure highlights the deepening security risks for Romania, which shares a long, vulnerable border with Ukraine. The incident underscores the fragility of Black Sea trade routes as regional tensions continue to spill across international lines.