Fearing potential conflict with NATO, villages in Romania have been evacuated after a drone strike targeted a ship on the Danube River. The incident occurred at the Romanian-Ukrainian border, where the MT Orinda was hit while unloading petroleum gas, causing significant fires and endangering numerous individuals aboard the vessel.
Overnight, Russia conducted a large-scale bombing operation in Ukraine, deploying two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 128 drones for strategic purposes. This attack coincided with French President Emmanuel Macron hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in France to discuss a potential deal involving the supply of 100 Rafale fighter jets to Kyiv.
The drone strike targeted the ship at Izmail Port, situated on the border between Romania and Ukraine, prompting authorities to order the evacuation of nearby villages. Izmail Port is crucial for Ukraine’s exports, making it a prime target for Russia in its military objectives against Kyiv.
Concerns arose regarding the possibility of the tanker exploding, leading Romanian officials to focus on extinguishing the fire and safeguarding residents in the area. Romania’s Tulcea University of Technology shared updates on Facebook, indicating ongoing efforts by Ukrainian authorities to address the situation on the LPG transport ship.
Following risk assessments and information from Ukrainian counterparts, the evacuation order for the village of Ceatalchioi was lifted, allowing the 231 residents who had evacuated to return home. While the risk from the ship’s fire was deemed low for Ceatalchioi, it remained high for the Plauru locality.