Ukrainian drones trigger Constanța port blast and are intercepted near St. Petropolis

A Ukrainian maritime drone exploded in the commercial port of Constanța, Romania, prompting an immediate evacuation and a security sweep by Romanian intelligence, civil‑protection services and the navy. Authorities said the unmanned vehicle resembled those used in the Ukraine war and was not part of Romania’s own arsenal.

In a separate wave of attacks, Russian air defenses shot down 25 Ukrainian drones over the Leningrad region around St. Petersburg, where an international economic forum was underway, and intercepted nine more en route to Moscow. The raids were described as retaliatory strikes in response to Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Both incidents underline the expanding use of Ukrainian unmanned systems beyond the front lines, raising concerns for neighboring states and Russian territory alike.