Romanian F-16 fighter jets destroyed a sea drone near the country’s Black Sea coast, prompting accusations against Russia. The drone was detected near the Neptun Deep project, a €4 billion gas extraction installation intended to reduce Romania's reliance on Russian energy. Romanian authorities deemed the drone, reportedly laden with explosives, a direct threat to the platform and its workers. President Dan and European Commission President Von der Leyen both pointed to Russia, with Von der Leyen describing the incident as “hybrid warfare”. This event follows 29 instances of Russian aerial drone violations of Romanian airspace since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with a notable increase this year. The incident raises concerns about escalating tensions and threats to European infrastructure.