Two unmanned aerial systems found adrift in the Black Sea near the Neptun Deep offshore gas project were safely destroyed in a controlled detonation on Tuesday by EOD divers from the Romanian Naval Forces, the Ministry of National Defence (MApN) announced.

According to a MApN statement, the systems were spotted at around 8:00 a.m. in Romania's exclusive economic zone, approximately 90 nautical miles off Constanta, near the Neptun Deep area, by the crew of a civilian vessel carrying out work in the area.

'A Coast Guard vessel carrying a specialized EOD intervention team from the Naval Forces proceeded to the indicated area. During the mission, two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), GERBERA models - possibly carrying explosive payloads - were identified, along with a drone wing. The two UAVs were neutralized by controlled detonation by EOD divers, while the drone fragment, which posed no pyrotechnic risk, was taken on board,' the statement said.

The Navy Component Command contacted the Ukrainian side, which confirmed that the aircraft did not belong to the Ukrainian forces, the MApN also said. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Mihai Stoica; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)

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