A Romanian F-16 fighter jet destroyed a naval drone carrying explosives near the Neptune Deep offshore gas project in the Black Sea, according to Romanian authorities. President Nicusor Dan blamed Russia for what he described as another irresponsible incident involving a NATO member bordering Ukraine.
The drone was spotted at 6:28 a.m. local time by a merchant vessel several hundred meters from the Neptune Deep project, about 80 nautical miles east of the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta, the Romanian Defense Ministry said.
Two Romanian F-16s were scrambled to investigate the object. One of the aircraft subsequently destroyed the drone.
Romanian Defense Minister Radu Miruca said the unmanned vessel was "loaded with explosives" and stressed that it was not of Ukrainian origin.
President Nicusor Dan condemned what he described as a growing pattern of incidents.
