Villages in Romania have been cleared out after a drone attack hit a ship on the Danube River, raising concerns of potential conflict with NATO by Vladimir Putin. The MT Orinda was struck while unloading petroleum gas on the border between Romania and Ukraine, causing significant fires and endangering numerous passengers.

Overnight, Russia conducted a widespread bombing campaign in Ukraine using Iskander-M ballistic missiles, as well as 128 shrike and decoy drones. The assault coincided with a meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in France, where discussions were held regarding a potential deal to provide Kyiv with 100 Rafale fighter jets.

The ship was targeted at Izmail Port, situated on the border between Romania and Ukraine, prompting Romanian authorities to evacuate nearby villages. Izmail Port plays a critical role in Ukraine’s export operations, making it a prime target for Russia’s strategic aims against Kyiv.

Fears arose that the vessel could explode, leading Romanian officials to focus on extinguishing the flames and safeguarding local residents. A statement from Romania’s Tulcea University of Technology, shared on Facebook, mentioned ongoing efforts by Ukrainian authorities to address the situation aboard the LPG transport ship.

Following a risk assessment and information exchange with Ukrainian counterparts, the evacuation order for the Ceatalchioi village residents has been lifted, allowing the 231 evacuated individuals to return home. While the fire risk in Ceatalchioi was deemed low, concerns persisted for the Plauru locality.