Drone Explodes Near Bulgarian Pipeline as Europe Faces Wave of Aerial Intrusions
The drone carried a significant explosive load and evaded detection by Bulgarian and Romanian air defenses, officials said.
- On Saturday, an unidentified drone exploded 1,000 metres from a Trans-Balkan gas pipeline compressor station near the Kardam border checkpoint, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev confirmed, with no casualties or infrastructure damage reported.
- Romania has seen a surge in drone incursions in recent months, including three downed drones in late July, with at least one identified as a Russian Shahed-type used by Moscow.
- Teams from the National Police, Border Police, and Defence Ministry are investigating the site. Radev explained that "Sound from the drone was detected by Romania's Border Police, followed by a loud explosion" heard by the border patrol.
- Kardam is a key node on the Vertical Gas Corridor, a strategic route transporting liquefied natural gas across Southeastern and Central Europe, linking Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Moldova, and Ukraine.
- Both Romania and Bulgaria, situated on NATO's eastern flank, face increased security challenges from Russia's war in Ukraine. Increased surveillance operations will now be put in place in the region, Radev added.
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222 Articles
A Ukrainian ambassador to Sofia, Olesya Ilashuk, was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria because of an incident involving a drone that took place on 8 August, as reported by Bulgarian National Television (BNT).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sofia summoned the Ukrainian ambassador to Bulgaria, following the incident on Saturday near the border with Romania, where a drone crashed at a short distance from a strategic gas infrastructure.
After the crash of a drone on its territory, Bulgaria has called the Ukrainian ambassador for a clarificational meeting.
The episode took place just one kilometer from the Trans-Balkan strategic gas pipeline connecting Turkey to Ukraine. Sofia summons Ukrainian ambassador for Monday
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