Acting Minister of Defense Radu Miruță said on Saturday, June 6, in Constanța, that the Ministry of National Defense is not responsible for port security and that small maritime drones cannot be detected by the army’s radar systems. The statements were made in the context of Friday’s incident in Constanța Port, when a Ukrainian drone self-detonated in Berth 78.
According to the minister, the responsibility for controlling access to the port and monitoring naval traffic rests with other institutions.
“The Naval Authority and the Border Police are responsible for entering the port. MApN does not guard the port. It supports national security elements”said Radu Miruță.
He explained that the military’s radars are effective at detecting ships and aerial targets, but cannot identify very small maritime drones.
“What were the drone filters? The answer is not at MApN. At sea, MApN, in the airspace, sees everything. It is a flat area. It sees ships. Drones up to 80 centimeters high, at sea, are not seen by MApN radars”, stated the minister.
Regarding the explosive charge of the drone, Miruță said that the exact assessment is impossible at this time, because the device self-detonated.
“Given that the drone self-detonated, the exact amount of explosives it was carrying cannot be determined. It can carry up to 500 kilograms,” the official stated.
The minister also announced that the Romanian authorities continue the dialogue with the Ukrainian side to establish clearer procedures regarding such incidents.
“We are trying, at the diplomatic level, to have a protocol with Ukraine. I spoke with the Minister of Defense and explained his grievances,” added Radu Miruta.
The statements were made after a meeting held at the headquarters of the 243rd Radioelectronic and Observation Brigade “Calatis” from Constanța, which was attended by the president Nicușor Dan and the interim Minister of Defense.
During the meeting, the circumstances of Friday’s incident, its impact on national and regional security, as well as the necessary measures to strengthen surveillance and reaction capacities in the Black Sea area were analyzed.
The Ukrainian drone self-detonated on Friday morning, around 10:30 a.m., in Berth 78 of Constanța Port, without causing any casualties. Authorities in Kiev admitted that the device belonged to them and claimed that it had been jammed by Russian electronic systems. According to official information, Ukraine lost control of four maritime drones, one reaching the Romanian shore, while the other three self-destructed off the Black Sea.
The incident prompted coastal precautions, including temporary evacuations at several resorts, amid fears of possible new threats in the region.
