In a dramatic escalation of the Black Sea conflict, Ukraine has acknowledged that one of its drones struck Romanian territory, breaking a critical taboo in the war with Russia. The admission came overnight as Britain’s Foreign Office issued a stark warning that the incident could widen the conflict dangerously.
Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov confirmed the strike, which hit a military depot near the Romanian border, in a hastily arranged press conference in Kyiv. ‘This was a tragic mistake. Our drone strayed off course due to technical failure,’ he said, his voice strained. ‘We have already extended our deepest apologies to Romania and are cooperating fully with their investigation.’ The drone, a Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2, was reportedly targeting Russian logistical hubs in occupied Ukrainian territory when it lost navigation and crossed the border.
The admission marks an extraordinary reversal for Kyiv, which has previously denied any cross-border strikes. It comes as the UK’s Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, warned that such ‘reckless actions’ risked turning the Black Sea into a ‘powder keg’. ‘Nato must remain vigilant,’ he said in a statement. ‘Any incursion into a member state’s territory is a serious matter. We call for restraint and immediate de-escalation.’
Romania, a Nato member, has confirmed the strike and summoned both Ukrainian and Russian ambassadors. President Klaus Iohannis described it as ‘an unacceptable breach of sovereignty’ but stopped short of invoking Article 5, the alliance’s collective defence clause. Analysts say this restraint reflects a desire to avoid direct confrontation with Russia. ‘Romania is walking a tightrope,’ said Dr. Elena Popescu, a security expert at the University of Bucharest. ‘They want to condemn Ukraine without pushing it into Russia’s arms.’
For the people of Sulina, a Romanian town near the strike site, the incident has shattered a fragile sense of security. ‘We heard the explosion in the night. It felt like the war was at our doorstep,’ said Maria Ionescu, a local shopkeeper. ‘We are not neutral. We are scared.’ Sixty-eight-year-old retired teacher Ion Vasile added: ‘The government says we are safe, but how can we be when drones fly over our homes?’
The UK’s warning reflects deeper fears that the conflict is spiralling. Russia has already blockaded Ukrainian ports, threatening global grain supplies and driving up food prices. A wider war in the Black Sea could disrupt shipping lanes further, hitting household budgets in Britain and beyond. Bread prices have risen 12 per cent in the past year, and any escalation will only add to the cost-of-living crisis.
Ukraine’s admission has also strained its relationship with western allies. A senior British defence source told the BBC: ‘We cannot have allies attacking other allies. This has to be resolved behind closed doors or it will undermine the coalition.’ The US State Department declined to comment, but regional observers note that Washington is anxious to avoid a Nato-Russia confrontation.
For now, the focus is on diplomacy. Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has offered to mediate, while Romania has called for an emergency meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. But on the ground, the sound of drones continues to punctuate the night. In Sulina, the children are sleeping in cellars again.
The incident has also raised questions about the safety of advanced weaponry. Ukraine’s use of Turkish drones has been crucial in blunting Russia’s advance, but their vulnerability to jamming and navigation errors is now exposed. ‘We need to hold ourselves to a higher standard,’ admitted Ukraine’s Reznikov. ‘But we are fighting for survival. Mistakes will happen.’
As the world watches, the Black Sea crisis is no longer a distant war. It is a battle that has now touched the soil of a Nato ally, and the ripple effects will be felt in every kitchen table discussion from Kyiv to Cardiff.
