Romanian military detonates explosives on Russian drone found in Tulcea rapeseed field

Discovery in a rapeseed field

On 29 June 2026, a local farmer alerted authorities after finding drone fragments in a rapeseed field near Rachelu, Luncavița commune, in Tulcea county. Police secured the area before specialized teams from the Ministry of National Defence (MApN) and other security agencies arrived to assess the situation. Evaluations confirmed the presence of an explosive payload, making the removal of the drone too dangerous to attempt.

Controlled detonation on site

On the morning of 30 June, military specialists carried out a controlled detonation in a specially prepared area, following strict safety protocols.

The charge was detonated in a controlled manner, on site, on the morning of 30 June, in a specially prepared area, by a team of specialists from the Ministry of National Defence, with full respect for all procedures provided for such situations and in complete safety for citizens and for the specialists who carried out the operation.

The prosecutor’s office attached to the Constanța Court of Appeal has taken over the case.

Russian origin and timing

Preliminary assessments indicate the fragments came from a drone used in Russian attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure in April 2026, before Romania beefed up air defences after serious incidents in Galați.

Preliminary data resulting from evaluations carried out by specialists indicate that the fragments come from a drone used in attacks executed by the Russian Federation on Ukrainian port infrastructure in April 2026, before the measures to strengthen and adapt air defence adopted after the serious incidents in Galați.

Some sources suggested the drone might have crashed almost two months earlier, while others speculated it could be linked to recent strikes on Danube ports.

A pattern of incursions

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Romania has recorded over 100 attacks on targets near its border, 29 unauthorized entries of Russian drones into national airspace, and about 50 instances of drone or fragment discovery on its territory. In 2026 alone, 33 attacks near the border triggered 26 air police scrambles, with 15 unauthorized entries and 14 drone/fragment identifications already documented.

Investigation ongoing

The case is now under the purview of the prosecutor’s office, while the Ministry of National Defence continues to assess the security perimeter. No casualties were reported, and the detonation caused no damage beyond the designated area. The incident is the latest in a series of spillover events from the war in Ukraine that have tested Romanian air defence and civil alert systems.