Russian drone attacks on Ukraine’s Danube ports hit recent high, Romania says

Romania has detected over 100 drones involved in seven attacks on Ukraine's Danube ports in recent days, according to interim Defense Minister Radu Miruță. The attacks were particularly intense, according to Miruță, and Ukrainian forces managed to destroy most of the drones within "a few dozen meters from Romanian airspace." The growing Russian attacks on Ukraine's Danube ports pose a risk to a crucial export route as Kyiv seeks alternative outlets while its Black Sea ports face ongoing assault.

Additionally, the attacks pose pressure on Ukraine's southern border region as Kyiv develops trade links with Moldova and Romania, and as NATO channels more military aid through Romania. Miruță stated that no indication has been found to suggest Romania's threat level has risen. Despite the heightened intensity of the attacks, Romania's military remains on high alert.

Ukraine is seeking trade and military support from Romania and Moldova, with discussions underway regarding a rail link through Moldova to Romania's Constanța port, though it is estimated that the rail line could handle only around 10% of Ukraine's grain exports. This proposed rail connection comes as Russian strikes on ports have reduced monthly agricultural exports by 20-30% and left up to 10 million tons of grain in storage without buyers, according to Agriculture Minister Taras Vysotskyi.

NATO announced in December that a second aid hub in Romania would begin operating in January, serving as a supplement to the main center in Poland and routing supplies toward Ukraine's southern and eastern fronts. However, Romania has faced repeated drone incursions, with over 40 such incidents recorded by early June, according to Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu.

The most severe incident occurred on May 29th when a drone struck an apartment building in Galați, injuring two people and prompting the evacuation or fleeing of about 70 residents. Following the attack, Vladimir Putin suggested that the aircraft might have been Ukrainian, but Romania later identified it as a Russian-built Geran-2 drone.

Romanian forces shot down three drones in 72 hours in July, and Miruță revealed that Spanish pilots and Romanian troops eliminated a fourth drone on August 16th. Debris from drones intercepted over Ukraine has also washed ashore on Romania's coastline, leading to temporary access restrictions while specialists checked for explosives.

To counter the drone threat, Bucharest is purchasing low-altitude radars and ground interceptors through the EU's SAFE program, opting for ground systems over fighter-launched missiles due to their lower cost.