Romania says it destroyed maritime drone in Black Sea
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The Sea Baby is a maritime drone developed by Ukraine.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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- Romania's military destroyed a Ukrainian-developed Sea Baby maritime drone in the Black Sea, 66km east of Constanta, due to navigation concerns.
- Rising Black Sea shipping risks, including attacks on Russia-linked tankers, have increased insurance rates, impacting grain, oil, and oil product shipments.
- Turkey and NATO discussed Black Sea safety; Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey operate a joint task force, having destroyed roughly 150 drifting mines since 2022.
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BUCHAREST - The Romanian military blew up a maritime drone that was endangering navigation in the Black Sea, the Ministry of National Defence said on Dec 3, amid rising concerns about risks to shipping in the area linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The ministry said that the drone, which was found in an area 36 nautical miles east of Constanta, was a Sea Baby. The Sea Baby is a maritime drone developed by Ukraine.
A Romanian Defence Ministry spokesperson declined to specify the country that the drone came from, but confirmed it was a Sea Baby. The Security Service of Ukraine declined to comment at the time of publication.
Worries over the safety of shipping in the Black Sea following attacks on Russia-linked tankers,
“The intervention team received approval to neutralise the identified object, in accordance with the operational procedures in force, and at around 1pm, the maritime drone was destroyed by controlled detonation,” the Defence Ministry said in a statement.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte discussed Black Sea safety on Dec 3, a Turkish Foreign Ministry source said, after Ankara expressed alarm at the attacks.
Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey have a joint task force to defuse stray mines, which began floating in the Black Sea after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Since the war started, roughly 150 drifting mines have been discovered and destroyed, the Romanian navy has said. REUTERS
