Romania Neutralizes Explosive Gerbera Drone in Black Sea

Romanian Naval Forces explosive ordnance disposal divers neutralized a Gerbera unmanned aerial vehicle fragment carrying an explosive payload near Gura Portiței on August 23, 2026. The incident was the second involving a Gerbera found along Romania’s Black Sea coast on Sunday, after another airframe was recovered near Costinești without an explosive payload.

The Romanian Ministry of National Defence confirmed the Gura Portiței incident on Sunday evening. A combat explosive ordnance disposal team from the Romanian Naval Forces traveled aboard a Coast Guard vessel to investigate a suspicious floating object before identifying it as a Gerbera drone fragment carrying explosives.

The team neutralized the object at the location under controlled conditions. The ministry did not identify the operator or origin of the drone in its August 23 statement.

Two Gerbera drones found off Romania on August 23

The Gura Portiței discovery followed a separate Gerbera incident near Costinești earlier on Sunday.

Romania’s Ministry of National Defence was notified during the morning of August 23 about a floating object in the Black Sea near Costinești, Constanța County. The object had been reported through Romania’s 112 emergency service.

A Romanian Naval Forces Puma Naval helicopter joined Ministry of Internal Affairs assets in the initial search. Authorities subsequently observed an object resembling a drone, prompting the deployment of a naval EOD diver team aboard a Coast Guard vessel.

The specialists identified the object as the body of a Gerbera drone. A pyrotechnic assessment found that the Costinești drone did not contain an explosive payload, and the Coast Guard recovered it.

The two August 23 incidents therefore involved the same identified drone type but presented different hazards. The Costinești airframe carried no explosive payload, while the Gerbera fragment discovered later near Gura Portiței contained explosives and required neutralization.

Romanian Navy has faced repeated Gerbera incidents

The August 23 discoveries are part of a broader series of drone-related incidents handled by Romanian authorities in the Black Sea.

On August 11, Romanian Naval Forces EOD divers destroyed two Gerbera unmanned aerial systems found drifting in Romania’s Exclusive Economic Zone approximately 90 nautical miles from Constanța, near the Neptun Deep area. A civilian vessel operating in the area initially detected the objects.

Romanian authorities assessed that those two Gerbera drones possibly carried explosive payloads and destroyed them through controlled detonations. During that operation, the Naval Component Command contacted Ukrainian authorities, who confirmed that the devices did not belong to Ukrainian forces.

Another drone fragment appeared near Costinești on August 13, approximately 15 meters from the breakwater blocks. Romanian Naval Forces EOD specialists inspected that object and determined that it presented no explosive hazard.

A further drone fragment was recovered near the southern breakwater of the Port of Midia on August 21. That object was also found to contain no explosive payload.

The concentration of incidents along Romania’s Black Sea coast creates a continuing explosive ordnance disposal and maritime security requirement even when the unmanned aircraft are no longer airborne.

Romania records 66 drone or fragment discoveries since 2022

Romania’s Ministry of National Defence maintains a public record of drone incidents handled by its forces since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

As of August 23, Romanian authorities had recorded 122 attacks near the national border that triggered a Ministry of National Defence response, 42 unauthorized drone incursions and 66 cases in which drones or drone fragments were identified on Romanian territory. Romanian forces had also shot down four drones.

The figures for 2026 alone show 56 attacks near the border, 44 military aircraft launches in response to aerial situations, 24 unauthorized incursions, four drones shot down and 30 cases involving identified drones or fragments. The ministry notes that its categories are not cumulative because a single incident can fall into more than one category.

Sunday’s Gura Portiței incident differs from many fragment discoveries because Romanian specialists confirmed an explosive payload remained present.

The event also demonstrates that Black Sea drone incidents can create a hazard after an aircraft enters the maritime environment. For Romania, managing that risk involves not only air surveillance and air defense but also Coast Guard vessels, naval aviation and specialized EOD teams capable of identifying and neutralizing unmanned systems at sea.

Romanian authorities had not attributed the Gura Portiței Gerbera or announced further details about its payload as of late August 23.

Romania Gerbera drone incidents: key questions

What did Romania find at Gura Portiței?

Romanian Naval Forces EOD divers identified a fragment of a Gerbera unmanned aerial vehicle carrying an explosive payload on August 23. The team neutralized the object at the location.

Was another Gerbera found in Romania on the same day?

Yes. Romanian authorities identified a Gerbera drone body near Costinești earlier on August 23. An EOD assessment determined that the Costinești drone did not contain an explosive payload.

Did Romania identify who operated the Gura Portiței drone?

No. The Romanian Ministry of National Defence identified the object as a Gerbera drone fragment but did not attribute it to an operator or country in its August 23 announcement.

How many drone incidents has Romania recorded?

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Romania’s Ministry of National Defence has recorded 42 unauthorized incursions and 66 cases involving identified drones or drone fragments. Thirty drone or fragment discoveries have been recorded in 2026 alone as of August 23.