Romania destroys two drifting aerial drones near its Neptun Deep gas platform

On 11 August, Romanian Naval Forces explosive ordnance disposal divers carried out a controlled detonation of two unmanned aerial vehicles found drifting in the country’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea, near the strategic Neptun Deep offshore gas project. The systems were identified as Gerbera-model UAVs, of Russian design and possibly carrying explosive payloads, along with a separate drone wing fragment. Ukraine confirmed the aircraft did not belong to its forces.

According to Romania’s Ministry of National Defence (MApN), the objects were spotted around 08:00 local time by the crew of a civilian vessel conducting works in the area, approximately 90 nautical miles (about 167 km) east of Constanța, in proximity to the Neptun Deep perimeter. A Coast Guard vessel carrying a specialized EOD team from the Romanian Naval Forces responded. The two UAVs were neutralized by controlled detonation under safe conditions; the wing fragment, which posed no pyrotechnic risk, was recovered on board.

Acting Defence Minister Radu Miruță announced the operation later that day, including via a Facebook post that featured video footage of one of the detonations. He stated that the systems were identified as Gerbera-type UAVs and that MApN contacted Ukrainian partners, who confirmed the systems did not belong to them. “For the safety of the shipping lane and the works being carried out around the platform, the decision was made to carry out a controlled destruction by detonation,” Miruță said.

BREAKING: 2 Russian Gerbera drones were found drifting near Romania’s Neptun Deep gas project in the Black Sea and were destroyed in a controlled detonation by Romanian EOD divers.
The drones were discovered around 167 km offshore from Constanța, inside Romania’s Exclusive… pic.twitter.com/xOXLwv2oSY
— GeoInsider (@InsiderGeo) August 11, 2026

Gerbera drones: low-cost Russian multipurpose UAVs

Gerbera drones are Russian-made multipurpose unmanned aerial vehicles, often described as a cheaper, simplified version of the Iranian-designed Shahed-136 (known in Russian service as Geran-2). They feature a plywood internal frame covered in polystyrene foam, a pusher propeller driven by a small internal-combustion engine (typically Chinese-made), a length of around 2 meters, and a wingspan of about 2.5 meters. Unit costs are estimated in the low thousands of dollars (around $10,000 in some reports).

They have been used extensively by Russia in the war against Ukraine since mid-2024, primarily as decoys to overwhelm air defences, for reconnaissance, as communications relays, or in some configurations as light attack drones carrying small warheads (up to roughly 5–10 kg). Ranges are typically cited between 300 and 600 km depending on configuration and payload. Their lightweight construction and relatively low radar signature make them inexpensive tools for saturating defences.

Romanian authorities did not publicly attribute the specific origin of these particular drones beyond noting Ukraine’s denial of ownership and the Gerbera designation. They were found already in the water, consistent with crashed, spent, or drifting aircraft rather than active surface vessels.

Strategic importance of Neptun Deep

The incident occurred near Neptun Deep, Romania’s largest offshore natural gas development and currently the biggest such project under way in the European Union. Jointly developed on a 50/50 basis by OMV Petrom (operator) and state-owned Romgaz, it targets recoverable resources estimated at around 100 billion cubic meters. The project includes an offshore production platform (Neptun Alpha, installed in waters about 120 m deep in July 2026), ten production wells, subsea systems, and a roughly 160 km pipeline to shore at Tuzla.

First gas is planned for 2027. Once online, it is expected to roughly double Romania’s gas production and position the country as the EU’s largest gas producer, enhancing regional energy security and reducing import dependence for Romania and partners including Moldova and others in Europe. Installation of the main platform and much of the pipeline infrastructure has already been completed, with remaining work focused on connections, remaining wells, and testing.

Romania advances Black Sea gas ambitions: foreign minister highlights Neptun Deep milestone

Civilian vessels working on the project were the first to detect the drifting objects, underscoring the proximity of ongoing construction and logistics activity to potential hazards.

Broader Black Sea security context

Romania, a NATO member sharing a 614 km land border with Ukraine, has faced repeated spillover effects from Russia’s full-scale invasion. Russian drones have repeatedly entered or approached Romanian airspace; in July 2026, Romanian F-16 pilots shot down three Russian drones over consecutive days after multiple prior incursions. NATO allies Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey have collectively neutralized more than 150 drifting naval mines that have threatened Black Sea shipping lanes since 2022; in July 2026 the three countries agreed to expand their joint mine-clearance task force to include protection of critical infrastructure.

Earlier incidents include the June 5, 2026, self-detonation of a Ukrainian naval drone (one of four that lost control, reportedly due to Russian electronic warfare) in Constanța Port’s civilian section, with no injuries after authorities secured the area. Romanian officials have also previously dealt with other drone debris and potential explosive hazards in Black Sea waters. All three Black Sea NATO states maintain gas exploration or production interests in the region, heightening sensitivity around critical energy infrastructure.

Ukrainian naval drone explodes in Romania port – first such incident on NATO territory

The 11 August operation was conducted without reported disruption to shipping or project works and was described by Romanian authorities as safe. No further details on the precise flight paths, launch origins, or residual risk from additional debris have been released publicly as of the latest reports.

Caption: A Gerbera-type drone of Russian design is pictured before being destroyed near Romania’s largest natural gas project. [Romanian Ministry of Defence]