Romanian F-16 fighter jets destroyed a marine drone detected near the Neptun Deep gas project in the Black Sea on August 20, Defense Minister Radu Miruta announced. The drone, which contained explosives, was intercepted approximately a few hundred metres from the offshore platform, prompting authorities to act to protect several hundred workers and critical infrastructure.
The incident occurred days after Romanian army divers destroyed two Gerbera-type drones drifting near the same project. Miruta confirmed the drone was hit by a fighter jet and later destroyed by a ship, though he did not specify its origin. Ukraine separately stated its forces were not responsible for the drone.
The drone’s detection follows a pattern of unmanned aerial and maritime incursions in the region since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Romania, a NATO member, has reported 50 drone-related incidents on its territory during this period, including a drone crash into an apartment building in Galați on May 29 that injured two people.
Regional Context and Responses
Romanian President Nicusor Dan accused Russia of escalating such incidents, stating, “I strongly condemn the intensification of these irresponsible incidents on the part of the Russian Federation.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the event as part of “an escalating campaign of threats.”
NATO has not publicly attributed the drone to any specific actor but has emphasized the broader risks posed by the Ukraine war. The alliance has conducted exercises in the region to prepare for similar threats, including a July 28 assessment that 19 drones had entered Romanian airspace in 2024 alone.
Ongoing Drone Incidents
On August 20, Romanian forces scrambled F-16 jets after detecting a small maritime drone 80 miles east of Constanța, near the Neptun Deep project. Earlier in the month, NATO F-18 aircraft shot down a drone that unlawfully entered Romanian airspace, marking the fourth unmanned craft destroyed over the country this year.
The Neptun Deep project, expected to make Romania the EU’s largest gas producer upon completion in 2027, has become a focal point amid concerns over energy infrastructure security. Romania shares a 614-km border with Ukraine and has faced repeated incursions, including mines floating in the Black Sea near key trade routes.