NATO scrambled fighter jets to destroy a marine drone reportedly loaded with explosives spotted close to a crucial Black Sea gas project.
Romania spotted the threat around Neptun Deep and quickly sent out F-16 jets to blast away the drone as officials accused Russia of being behind the dangerous act.
The drone got within a few hundred meters from the platform before it was targeted.
Defence Minister Radu Miruta said they had no choice but to intercept the drone “in order to protect the lives of the several hundred people working on the platform”.
The huge Neptun Deep project is expected to make Romania the European Union’s largest gas producer when it comes onstream in 2027.
The offshore site is feared to have become a target due to its vital future role in global gas trade which has been severely hampered since the Ukraine war.
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Earlier this month, Romanian army divers were also deployed to destroy two Gerbera-type drones drifting in the exclusive economic zone near the project.
Huge explosions were seen on the water as the drones were blasted with debris sent flying through the air.
Miruta didn’t say who he believed was behind the maritime scare but did confirm Ukraine said it wasn’t associated with their forces.
Romanian President Nicusor Dan quickly blamed Russia for today’s intrusion.
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He said: “I strongly condemn the intensification of these types of irresponsible incidents on the part of the Russian Federation.
“We remain vigilant alongside Nato allies to defend ourselves and repel such challenges.”
Nato states Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey have neutralised more than 150 mines drifting across trade lanes in the Black Sea in recent years.
The three states have now agreed to expand a joint task force that patrols the water clearing mines to now include missions to protect critical infrastructure.
Neptun Deep is jointly owned by OMV Petrom and state gas producer Romgaz.
Romania shares a 382-mile land border with Ukraine and has seen Russian drones breaching its airspace over the last four years of war.
The latest came overnight when a drone entered Romanian airspace near Galati before crashing in an unpopulated area in the county of Tulcea.
Two Spanish F-18 aircraft and a Romanian helicopter were later deployed to protect the border.
A raging European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen slammed a “hybrid warfare” campaign against the bloc earlier today.
She said: “An escalating campaign of threats is underway, unsettling our citizens and seeking to divide our Union.”
Von der Leyen warned the EU must step up its defence plans to be able to “deter provocation and aggression”.
She fell short of directly blaming Vladimir Putin‘s Russia.
Back in June, a Ukrainian sea drone on a Black Sea mission lost control and exploded at a major Romanian port.
Kyiv quickly accused Russia of jamming the drone and causing the dangerous blast.
