Romania and Ukraine classify Constanta naval drone incident as one off | Ukraine news

Officials warn the episode exposed electronic warfare risks in the Black Sea, while Bucharest and Kyiv push for tighter technical coordination and safe self-destruct rules.

Romania and Ukraine regard the incident involving a maritime drone at the Port of Constanța on June 5 as a lone incident, most likely caused by Russian electronic-warfare assets.

According to the Romanian Ministry of Defense, Ukraine said that on June 4 near the temporarily occupied Sevastopol, about 250 kilometers from the Romanian coast, contact was lost with four Sargan-3000 maritime drones moving in the eastern part of the Black Sea. After losing contact, Ukrainian forces could not control their movement or re-establish contact, according to the Agerpres agency.

At 09:54 on June 5, the Ukrainian Navy informed the Romanian Navy of the loss of control over these drones and warned about the planned procedure for their self-destruction. Because of the lack of communication, cancelling it was not possible.

According to the Ukrainian side, this incident is a lone case, most likely caused by the Russian Federation’s activities in the field of radio-electronic warfare

– stated by the Romanian Ministry of National Defense

Context and Practical Steps

The ministry also said that after the incident Romania proposed establishing a permanent technical channel of communication between the navies of the two countries and coordinating operational procedures for timely information exchange about risks in the Black Sea.

In addition, Romania’s defense minister has asked the Ukrainian side to ensure that all maritime unmanned drones launched in the Black Sea are programmed to self-destruct in a safe zone outside areas of interest to Romania if they deviate from their route for any reason.

Romanian Navy spokesman Alexandru Turturike noted that the drone was detected on June 4 near the ARSVOM headquarters located at the Port of Constanța.

Ukraine confirmed that during operations in the Black Sea operational zone, one of the Ukrainian Navy’s unmanned boats, under the influence of the opponent’s EW capabilities, lost control and ended up near the Romanian coast.

Spokesman for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Georgiy Tikhiy stated that the drone incident in Constanța port confirms the threat of Russian aggression to the region, and effective coordination between Ukraine and neighboring countries is key to minimizing consequences.

In the context of developments, it is important to note that both sides reaffirm the need for further coordination to reduce risks in the Black Sea and ensure the safety of maritime operations.

Overall, the events underscore the need for enhanced cooperation between countries in addressing threats in the Black Sea and ensuring security during maritime missions.