EU condemns hybrid warfare after Romanian military intercepts sea drone

On August 20, 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen denounced a growing campaign of "hybrid warfare" against the European Union. The statement followed an incident in the Black Sea where a Romanian F-16 fighter jet destroyed an unidentified maritime drone located just a few hundred meters from the Neptun Deep natural gas facilities. Romanian Defense Minister Radu Miruta confirmed the engagement, marking the latest in a series of security challenges faced by the NATO member state.

This incident occurs against a backdrop of escalating regional tensions. Romania, which shares a 614-kilometer border with Ukraine, has experienced repeated incursions by drones into its airspace over the past four years, alongside floating naval mines threatening critical energy and commercial routes. Earlier this month, military divers were also forced to neutralize two Gerbera-type drones in the same vicinity. Von der Leyen emphasized that these coordinated threats are designed to divide the bloc, prompting her call for intensified defensive efforts across the EU to deter further provocations. Romanian authorities continue to monitor the area closely as part of broader NATO security protocols in the Black Sea region.