Romania's military said it destroyed a Russian-made explosive drone boat found near the Neptun Deep gas platform in the Black Sea, using F-16 fighter jets to disable it with cannon fire before army specialists carried out a controlled detonation. The incident, which Romania's president blamed directly on Russia, is the second suspected Russian drone incursion near the strategically important site this month and reflects growing concern over attacks on European energy infrastructure amid the wider Black Sea conflict.

The Romanian Coast Guard spotted the drone on 20 August just a few hundred metres from the platform, where several hundred workers were carrying out installation work; Neptun Deep is expected to make Romania the EU's largest gas producer once full production begins in 2027, supplying countries including Germany and Moldova. It follows an 11 August incident in which two Russian flying drones were destroyed near the same site, and naval expert H.I. Sutton noted the boat's unusual design, including a hangar possibly for missiles or drones and antennas that may support satellite communication. The Black Sea has become a major flashpoint since Russia's 2022 invasion, with both sides using drones to target shipping, energy infrastructure and grain exports, raising fears of wider escalation and disruption to global food supplies.