Russian Orlan-10 drone crashes near Istanbul as Black Sea surveillance intensifies

A Russian Orlan-10 reconnaissance drone reportedly crashed in Türkiye’s Kocaeli province, near the town of İzmit, around 50 kilometers from Istanbul, the Turkish Ministry of Interior said.

The crash follows a recent pattern of Russian drones entering or violating the airspace of NATO states and partners across Europe, prompting interceptions and heightened air monitoring.

Drone likely tracking Ukrainian maritime threats in Black Sea

The drone is believed to have been used for surveillance over the Black Sea, likely relaying signals to detect potential threats, including Ukrainian maritime drones, according to Ukrainian military portal Militarnyi. 

The incident follows a report earlier this week, on December 15, of a separate unidentified drone intercepted over the Black Sea by Turkish F-16 fighters. That drone was taken under control under standard air monitoring procedures, but in this case, the Orlan-10 crossed into Turkish territory before crashing.

Türkiye investigates after drone found intact

Turkish media report that the drone landed in a rural area and was found largely intact by local residents. The Ministry of Interior said it is continuing investigations into the circumstances of the crash.

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