Conflict & Security
Romania says F-16 destroyed explosive drone near gas project
Romanian officials said an F-16 fighter jet destroyed a marine drone near the Neptun Deep offshore gas project in the Black Sea on Thursday, and Romania’s president blamed Russia for the incident.
Defence Minister Radu Miruta said the drone was loaded with explosives and did not originate from Ukraine. Romania’s defence ministry said a commercial vessel spotted it at 6:28 am local time, hundreds of metres from Neptun Deep and 80 nautical miles east of Constanta. Two Romanian F-16 aircraft were deployed, and one destroyed the drone.
Romanian President Nicusor Dan condemned what he called “the escalation of such irresponsible incidents on the part of the Russian Federation.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the incident was part of what she called “an escalating campaign of threats” against the European Union, adding: “This is hybrid warfare.”
Hundreds of people are currently working at Neptun Deep, according to the Romanian government. The offshore gas project is due to start production in 2027.
Romania, a NATO member bordering Ukraine, has reported repeated drone-related incidents during Russia’s war in Ukraine. The country also reported on Thursday that an aerial drone crashed in an unpopulated area four kilometres northeast of Grindu, near the Ukrainian border, after Russian strikes on Ukraine. No casualties were reported in that crash.
In early June, a Ukrainian maritime drone exploded in Romania’s Black Sea port of Constanta without causing casualties. Kyiv said that drone had been knocked off course by Russian electronic interference.
Update
Hundreds of people are currently working at the Neptun Deep offshore gas project, according to the Romanian government.
Neptun Deep is due to start production in 2027.
Romania reported a separate aerial drone crash on Thursday near Grindu, with no casualties reported.
NATO has shot down four aerial drones in Romania recently, with the latest incident during the previous weekend, according to the source item.
In early June, a Ukrainian maritime drone exploded in Romania's Black Sea port of Constanta without causing casualties, and Kyiv said it had been knocked off course by Russian electronic interference.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 August 2026 at 12:48:59 UTC.
Update
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the situation as a “hybrid warfare” campaign against the European Union.
Von der Leyen said the EU must step up its defence push to deter provocation and aggression.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 August 2026 at 12:01:25 UTC.
Update
The EU chief condemned an “escalating campaign of threats” after the Romania drone incident.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 August 2026 at 11:46:44 UTC.
Update
Romanian President Nicusor Dan blamed Russia for the incident, condemning what he called escalation by the Russian Federation.
The drone was spotted by a commercial vessel at 6:28 am local time, hundreds of metres from the Neptun Deep offshore gas project and 80 nautical miles east of Constanta.
Two Romanian F-16 aircraft were deployed, and one destroyed the marine drone.
The Romanian government says hundreds of people are currently working at Neptun Deep, which is due to start production in 2027.
Romania also reported a separate aerial drone crash Thursday near Grindu after Russian strikes on Ukraine, with no casualties reported.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 August 2026 at 11:14:24 UTC.
Update
The marine drone was hundreds of metres from the Neptun Deep offshore gas project, according to Romania's defence minister.
Defence Minister Radu Miruta said the drone was loaded with explosives.
Miruta said the drone did not originate from Ukraine.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 August 2026 at 10:29:26 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
Responsibility for the destroyed marine drone was not independently established in the supplied material.
The exact origin and route of the destroyed marine drone were not fully established.
The supplied material does not give a detailed damage assessment for the Neptun Deep area.
Source
AFP news report published on .