A maritime drone self-detonated in Romania's Constanta port on Friday at 10:30 a.m. local time, according to the Romanian Ministry of National Defence. The explosion occurred near an oil terminal, causing no injuries.

Interior Minister Raed Arafat said the port was evacuated and residents along the Black Sea coast were warned to take cover as helicopters surveyed the area for other drones.

Kyiv later informed Bucharest that the incident involved a Ukrainian naval drone that lost control due to Russian electronic warfare systems and drifted to the Romanian coast, the Ukrainian navy stated.

Romanian President Nicusor Dan called it the second security incident this week, following the detonation of a Russian mine earlier. Last week, a Russian drone crashed into a residential building in Romania, raising fears of war spillover.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned the drone was a direct consequence of the Russia-Ukraine war, posing a growing threat to Eastern border countries. She pledged EU investment in anti-drone capabilities and air defense.

Romania, sharing a 650-km border with Ukraine, has reported dozens of airspace breaches and requested NATO assistance. Azerbaijan also reported five citizens killed in attacks on cargo vessels in the Sea of Azov, linked to Ukrainian drone strikes.

Source: www.aljazeera.com