Romanian army divers destroyed two drones drifting in the country’s Black Sea exclusive economic zone, near the offshore gas project Neptun Deep.
Defense Minister Radu Miruta made the announcement after a civilian vessel working near the gas project spotted the objects.
“For the safety of the shipping lane and the works being carried out around the platform, the decision was made to carry out a controlled destruction by detonation. The defense ministry contacted Ukrainian partners, who confirmed that the systems do not belong to them,” Miruta said.
The incident comes after repeated breaches by Russian drones of Romania’s airspace since 2022, and mines floating across key trade and energy routes. Last month, Romanian F-16 fighter jet pilots shot down three Russian drones breaching the country’s airspace over three consecutive days.
The destruction of two unidentified drones near Neptun Deep highlights the growing security risks surrounding Romania’s Black Sea energy infrastructure. With Romania already experiencing repeated Russian drone incursions and maritime threats, the incident is yet more indication that Black Sea energy and commercial corridors are becoming increasingly exposed to the spillover of the Russia–Ukraine war.
Neptun Deep is strategically important to Romania’s ambition to strengthen its energy security and become a major regional gas supplier. Any repeated drone or maritime incidents near the project could therefore have consequences well beyond Romanian territorial security, potentially affecting regional energy resilience, NATO’s eastern flank, and freedom of navigation in the western Black Sea.
