Drone incidents in the Black Sea region

Recent incidents involving drone fragments and airspace incursions have been reported along the Black Sea coasts of Bulgaria and Romania.

In Bulgaria, the Navy has recovered various reconnaissance drone parts and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from several locations. Initial recoveries included components from beaches in Primorsko and near Lozenece, which were transported to naval bases in Varna and Burgas. This followed an incident where a Ukrainian-manufactured ‘Maja’ type decoy drone exploded near the Kardam border crossing with Romania.

In a subsequent 24-hour period, the Bulgarian Navy reported four additional findings near Varna, Pomorie, Tsarevo, and Varvara. These included a 2-by-1.5-meter drone found on Kabakum beach, a military drone wing in Kamchia, and an electrical reconnaissance device found in a rocky cove. While some items were transported for inspection, military personnel were required to destroy other objects on-site to ensure safety. Officials suggest that northeastern air currents may be carrying these remnants from the Black Sea toward Bulgaria, potentially linking the debris to combat operations in Ukraine.

In Romania, authorities in Costinești responded to a suspected drone fragment found floating near a pier. Following an inspection by EOD combat divers from the Romanian Naval Forces, the object was deemed to pose no pyrotechnic risk. The discovery occurred after radar systems detected five aerial targets near the Ukrainian border, one of which reportedly entered Romanian airspace for ten minutes, prompting the Romanian Air Force to scramble two F-16 fighter jets.