Romanian military destroys Russian drones near critical Black Sea gas project

Romanian army divers have destroyed two Russian-made Gerbera drones discovered drifting in the Black Sea near the Neptun Deep offshore gas project. The incident, confirmed by Defence Minister Radu Miruță, underscores the growing security risks surrounding critical European energy infrastructure as the conflict in Ukraine spills over into regional airspace and waters.

The drones were initially spotted by a Romanian Coast Guard ship on 11 August. Responding with army personnel, the vessel identified the systems as Russian-designed Gerbera-type drones, which are commonly utilised by the Russian military for one-way strikes, reconnaissance, and as decoys during missile attacks. Miruță released a video purportedly showing explosive ordnance disposal divers detonating one of the drones in the water.

Ukrainian partners were consulted regarding the origin of the systems and confirmed that the drones did not belong to Ukraine. It remains unclear whether the recovered drones were carrying explosive payloads or the specific circumstances that led to their presence near the gas project.

The Neptun Deep project is a vital component of European energy strategy, scheduled to commence production in 2027. Once operational, the site is expected to double Romania’s gas output, potentially making the country the largest gas producer in the European Union and supplying nations such as Germany and Moldova.

This event follows a series of Russian drone incursions into Romanian airspace, including a May 29 incident where a Geran-2 drone struck an apartment building, injuring two people and forcing 70 evacuations. The incident also occurs shortly after a failed drone attack on a Ukrainian cargo aircraft at Leipzig Airport in Germany, for which US intelligence officials suspect Russian responsibility.