Romanian authorities have ordered the evacuation of two border villages after a Russian drone strike hit a Turkish-flagged gas tanker on the Danube River, sparking fears of a major explosion near NATO territory.
Emergency evacuation on NATO's border
The incident occurred on Monday when a Russian drone struck the MT Orinda while it was offloading liquefied petroleum gas at Izmail port in southern Ukraine. The port sits directly on the Danube River, which forms the entire border between Romania and Ukraine.
Authorities in Romania's Tulcea district evacuated residents and animals from the villages of Plauru and another nearby settlement over concerns that the tanker's highly flammable cargo could explode. Most of the evacuated individuals came from the border village of Plauru.
Massive Russian air assault across Ukraine
The tanker strike formed part of a larger overnight Russian air attack that saw two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 128 strike and decoy drones launched across Ukraine, according to figures from Ukraine's air force.
Turkey's Directorate for Maritime Affairs confirmed the MT Orinda was hit while offloading liquefied petroleum gas. Fortunately, all 16 crew members onboard were safely evacuated and no injuries were reported from the vessel.
Oleh Kiper, head of Odesa's regional military administration, stated that Russian drones had attacked the region overnight, damaging energy and port infrastructure in several cities. The attack resulted in multiple fires and damage to several civilian vessels, with one person reported injured.
Strategic timing amid energy security deals
The strike came at a diplomatically significant moment, occurring just one day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Greece to secure a crucial energy agreement. The deal will enable US liquefied natural gas to flow to Odesa via pipelines from the northern Greek port of Alexandroupolis starting in January.
"As of today, we have prepared an agreement on gas for Ukraine," Mr Zelensky stated according to The Kyiv Independent. "This will be another route for gas supply - to maximize the security of import routes for Ukraine during winter."
The timing also coincided with President Zelensky's meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace, where the pair announced an agreement to provide Kyiv with 100 Rafale fighter jets.
Izmail port has become increasingly vital for Ukrainian imports and exports as Russia continues to target Ukraine's Black Sea ports and energy infrastructure. The sustained attacks on the Odesa region have persisted since Russia's full-scale invasion nearly four years ago.
Romanian authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as the damaged tanker remains ablaze near their border, highlighting the ongoing regional tensions and the proximity of conflict to NATO territory.
