EU and Romania report hybrid warfare threats after marine drone destruction

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned Thursday that the EU was facing a "hybrid warfare" campaign after a Romanian jet destroyed a marine drone near the Neptun Deep gas project.

Drones and mines linked to Russia's war in Ukraine have become a growing issue for NATO member Romania, which shares a border with Ukraine.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Romania has seen multiple instances of drones entering its airspace or mines floating in the Black Sea.

Romania's president blamed Thursday's drone incident on Moscow.

"I strongly condemn the ​intensification of these types of irresponsible incidents on the part of the Russian Federation," President Nicusor Dan wrote ​in a post on X. "We remain vigilant alongside NATO allies to defend ourselves and repel such challenges."

EU Chief von der Leyen said the bloc must boost its defense efforts to be able to "deter provocation and aggression."

"An escalating campaign of threats is underway, unsettling our citizens and seeking to divide our Union," she added.

The Neptun Deep project, owned by OMV Petrom and state gas producer Romgaz, is expected to make Romania the EU's largest gas producer when it comes online in 2027.

F-16 jets were scrambled after the marine drone was spotted by a commercial vessel a few hundred meters from the offshore Neptun Deep gas project at 6:28 a.m. local time (0328 GMT), the Defense Ministry said.

Romanian Defense Minister Radu Miruta said the drone was "loaded with explosives."

"In ​order to protect the lives of the several hundred people working on the platform and to secure critical infrastructure, the decision was made to destroy (the marine drone)," Miruta said, adding that Ukraine had confirmed the drone did not belong to its forces.

Separately, Romania reported that an aerial drone crashed into an unpopulated area in its territory early Thursday during Russia's latest strikes on Ukraine.

Earlier this month, army divers also destroyed two Gerbera-type drones seen drifting in the exclusive economic zone near the same Neptun Deep project.