Romanian F-16 fighter jets destroyed an explosive-laden maritime drone in the country's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea on Thursday, after the unmanned vessel was spotted drifting several hundred metres from a major offshore gas development. Defence Minister Radu Miruta confirmed that one of two scrambled F-16s used its onboard cannon to destroy the drone, which was carrying explosives, near the Neptun Alpha platform — part of the Neptun Deep gas project located roughly 80 nautical miles east of Constanța, Romania's main Black Sea port city.

Workers at the site first observed the drone early Thursday morning, prompting an immediate alert to the coast guard. A command cell was established at the Defence Ministry, NATO was notified, and the decision to destroy the drone was taken in direct coordination with President Nicușor Dan. Officials stressed that hundreds of workers were present on and around the platform at the time, making the explosive-laden craft a direct threat to both human life and critical energy infrastructure.

Romania and Ukraine have confirmed that the drone was not of Ukrainian origin. President Dan placed the blame squarely on Russia, condemning