Romania shot down two drones near a gas project
The Romanian military destroyed two "Gerbera"-type drones that were detected in the country's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea. The drones were drifting near the Neptun Deep offshore gas project, so it was decided to detonate them in a controlled manner to avoid posing a danger to shipping and workers. The Ukrainian side confirmed to Romania that these drones did not belong to it.
The incident occurred on Tuesday in the Black Sea. The two drones were detected by one of the ships operating in the vicinity of the Neptun Deep gas platform. This area falls within Romania’s exclusive economic zone. The drones were located approximately 90 nautical miles, or more than 166 kilometers, east of Constanța.
After the drones were detected, a Coast Guard vessel with military personnel on board was dispatched to the area. Experts were tasked with verifying what exactly was in the water and whether it posed a threat to vessels and personnel working near the gas platform. The Romanian Ministry of National Defense also contacted Ukrainian authorities to determine the origin of the drones.
Ukraine stated that the drones do not belong to it
Radu Miruce, Romania’s acting Minister of Defense, reported that Ukrainian partners had confirmed they were not involved with the drones found. “Two drifting UAVs and several other pieces of debris were discovered. The Ministry of National Defense contacted our Ukrainian partners, who confirmed that these systems do not belong to them,” Miruce said.
Thus, at this time, there is no confirmation that the drones were launched by Ukraine. Their exact origin and the circumstances under which they ended up in Romanian waters remain under investigation. It is also important to note that the drones did not fly over Romanian territory. They were in the waters of Romania’s exclusive economic zone and were drifting at sea.
Why the drones were destroyed
After an inspection, military officials decided to destroy the drones through a controlled detonation. This was carried out by bomb disposal experts. The decision was made to ensure the safety of shipping and operations taking place around the gas platform. An unidentified drone at sea can pose a danger, especially if its technical condition and the presence of explosives cannot be immediately determined.
Therefore, instead of transporting the drones to shore, the military opted for controlled destruction directly in the area where they were discovered. Civilian vessels are operating in the Neptun Deep area, and the project itself is of vital importance to Romania’s energy sector. That is precisely why any potentially dangerous objects near the platform require a rapid response.
What Is Known About “Gerbera” Drones
Russia uses “Gerbera”-type drones. Such drones are typically employed for reconnaissance or as decoys. Decoy drones are needed, in particular, to force the enemy to expend resources on detecting and destroying them. At the same time, “Gerber” drones can also be used to gather intelligence.
Such drones have been spotted on multiple occasions in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Due to their purpose and operational characteristics, it is impossible to determine the specific mission of each such drone solely based on its detection. In this case, the drones were found at sea near a critical energy facility in Romania. That is precisely why the situation drew particular attention from the Romanian military.
What Is Neptun Deep
Neptun Deep is a major Romanian natural gas project in the Black Sea. It is being developed in the Romanian offshore area, where significant natural gas reserves are located. The project is of strategic importance to the country, as Romania seeks to increase its own gas production and strengthen its energy independence.
Offshore operations require the constant presence of specialized vessels and personnel. Therefore, any foreign objects in the vicinity of the platform can pose additional risks. It was precisely for safety reasons that the Romanian military decided not to leave the found drones drifting near the work site.
This is not the first time Romania has encountered Russian drones
For Romania, a NATO member that shares a border with Ukraine, incidents involving Russian drones in the Black Sea and near the border have become one of the security factors the country is closely monitoring. Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports on the Danube take place near Romanian territory. As a result, drone debris or other objects may end up on Romanian territory or in adjacent waters.
This time, the Ukrainian side separately confirmed that the “Gerbera” drones found did not belong to it. The Romanian military subsequently destroyed the drones to eliminate a potential danger to ships, people, and operations in the area of the gas project. The main question now is exactly how these drones ended up in the Neptun Deep area and what their purpose was. There is currently no official information that would provide a definitive answer to this question. This was reported by the country’s acting Minister of Defense, Radu Miruce, on Facebook.
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