Romanian Authorities Report Unmanned Aircraft Parts Found Near Plauru
The Romanian Ministry of National Defense reported that components resembling those used in a Russian military unmanned aerial vehicle were located in the Plauru area of Tulcea County. The discovery emerged after official channels disseminated a formal update from the ministry’s departments. The finding adds another piece to the ongoing inspections conducted by national security and defense agencies in border regions along the Danube delta and the northern shores near Ukraine.
In a statement, the Romanian Ministry explained that naval units from the Romanian Navy, deployed on reconnaissance duties around Plauru on September 9, conducted targeted searches within their area of responsibility. The operation followed information from local authorities about a potential location for the drone parts, approximately 2.5 kilometers southeast of Plauru. The mission prioritized rapid field verification to assess any risks and to verify the origin and type of the recovered components.
“During the on-site investigation, objects bearing similarities to components used in the unmanned aircraft employed by the Russian armed forces were found,” the ministry stated. The agency emphasized that the recovered material required further analysis to determine its exact model and provenance and to understand whether it had been deployed in past operations or rehearsals in the region.
On the morning of September 6, Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tîlvăr provided an update indicating that the wreckage is considered to be related to a Russian UAV. Officials noted that the parts were located in the Plauru region near the Ukrainian border on the evening of September 5, consistent with prior reports of explosions at Ukrainian ports which had raised regional security concerns. The minister stressed the importance of evidence-based identification and ongoing coordination with international partners to monitor airspace security along NATO’s eastern flank.
Radio Romania International reported that discussions between allied partners touched on the deployment of a sizeable batch of F-16 fighters to Romania. The purpose of this move would be to bolster NATO’s air security mission in the area and to deter potential airspace threats. The topic was also part of a telephone conversation between Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu and United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken, underscoring the close cooperation among allied governments regarding regional safety, surveillance, and rapid response planning.
Earlier statements indicated that Ukrainian authorities had alleged responsibility for orchestrating drone raids on military airfields, a claim that has been examined in the broader context of regional security dynamics. The Romanian government has confirmed ongoing investigations into a range of unmanned systems activity observed near the border and continues to work with international partners to share intelligence and coordinate border monitoring efforts with a view to maintaining stability in this strategically sensitive corridor. (Source attribution: Romanian Ministry of National Defense and official statements from national security agencies.)