Romanian military divers have destroyed two Gerbera-type drones discovered near the Neptun Deep offshore gas project in the Black Sea, Romania’s Defense Minister Radu Miruță said Tuesday.
The drones were spotted by a civilian vessel operating near the offshore gas development, according to Miruță. He did not specify their origin but said Ukraine had confirmed that the drones did not belong to its forces.
“For the safety of the maritime shipping lane and the work being carried out around the platform, the decision was made to conduct a controlled destruction by explosion,” Miruță said.
The incident comes as Romania faces increasing security risks linked to Russia’s war against Ukraine. The NATO member shares a 614-kilometer land border with Ukraine and has repeatedly reported Russian drones entering its airspace, while floating mines have also been detected in the Black Sea along important commercial and energy routes.
In July, Romanian F-16 fighter jets shot down three Russian drones that had entered the country’s national airspace over three consecutive days. Romanian authorities have reported dozens of similar incidents since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Neptun Deep project is considered strategically important for Romania’s energy security and is one of the largest natural gas developments in the Black Sea.
Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey, the three NATO members bordering the Black Sea, have also worked together to address maritime security threats. Along with Georgia, Russia and Ukraine, the countries share access to the strategically important sea.
More than 150 floating mines have been neutralized in major Black Sea shipping corridors by the NATO members, according to Romanian authorities.
In July, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey agreed to expand their joint task force responsible for clearing floating mines to include missions aimed at protecting critical infrastructure.
The latest drone incident highlights growing concerns over the security of energy infrastructure and commercial shipping in the Black Sea, particularly as Russia’s war against Ukraine continues to create risks well beyond the immediate battlefield.
