Bulgaria's prime minister said a drone entered Bulgarian airspace and exploded near the Kardam border crossing, about 1,000 metres from the Trans‑Balkan pipeline compressor station, with no casualties reported. The device later crashed in a sunflower field and was heard first by Romanian border police before Bulgarian patrols observed a loud blast and black smoke. Rumen Radev described the craft as a larger drone carrying significant explosives and said Bulgaria has boosted surveillance and will redeploy forces to counter drone threats. The incident adds to increasing drone activity in the Black Sea region amid the Russia‑Ukraine war.
Drone Explodes Near Trans‑Balkan Gas Pipeline at Bulgaria‑Romania Border, PM Says
Bulgaria's Prime Minister Rumen Radev said he did not yet know the type of drone, or where it came from, but stated it was carrying a 'significant' amount of explosives (Nicolas TUCAT)
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said a drone that crossed into Bulgaria on Saturday exploded near the Kardam border crossing with Romania, roughly 1,000 metres from the Trans‑Balkan gas pipeline's compressor station. Authorities reported no casualties.
According to Radev, the drone later came down in a nearby sunflower field. Romanian border police first recorded the sound of the aircraft, and a Bulgarian border patrol then observed a loud explosion accompanied by thick black smoke.
Radev described the device as carrying a "significant" amount of explosives and said it was a larger unmanned aerial vehicle rather than a hobbyist model. He added that investigators had not yet determined the drone's origin or exact type and that neither neighbouring country detected it in advance.
Security Response
Following the incident, Bulgaria has increased surveillance along its borders and said it will redeploy troops and take additional anti‑drone measures to detect and counter similar threats. Radev said identifying and neutralising such drones remains a major challenge for security services.
Regional Context
Drone incursions and strikes have become more frequent across eastern Europe amid the Russia‑Ukraine conflict. The Black Sea region in particular has seen recent drone activity and clashes involving both Ukrainian and Russian forces. Turkish officials separately reported a drone attack on two civilian vessels in the Black Sea the previous day that injured crew members and drew concern from Ankara.
Separately, Romania has reported repeated drone incursions since 2022 and recently expelled a Russian embassy staff member. In June, Bulgaria halted military aid to Ukraine; Radev has expressed a preference for diplomatic solutions over joining coalitions supplying arms to Kyiv.
What investigators are doing: Authorities are examining the wreckage and surrounding area to determine the drone type, point of origin and whether the device was part of a broader campaign targeting energy or transport infrastructure.
Help us improve.
