Their Time in Sulina Coincided With Heightened Activity Linked to the War at Romania's Border

Two New Zealand environmentalists who cycled 3,000 kilometers along the Danube "from source to sea" described the unsettling experience of arriving in Sulina, Romania, just as drone debris washed up on the Romanian coast and a military parade took place nearby. Anna Wentsch and Callum Armstrong, who represent the environmental conservation organization Conservation Amplified, arrived in Sulina on August 14. They spent eight weeks cycling through eight countries — Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania — following the Danube's course for most of the route. They entered Romania near Călărași, then took a ferry from Tulcea to Sulina, where they stayed for several days.

Their time in Sulina coincided with heightened activity linked to the war at Romania's border. Between August 14 and 16, several drone fragments were found on the Romanian coast, one drone was shot down in Galați County, and another crashed in Tulcea. They also witnessed the Romanian Navy Day parade in Tulcea.

"To be honest, it's a rather strange feeling. I've never been in a war zone. The day after we arrived, we received air alerts telling us to take shelter.

We also caught the Navy Day demonstrations in Tulcea. It's a strange feeling to be in a place where many drones pass through the country's airspace, are shot down, and at the same time, in the same place, to see a military demonstration, Armstrong told Digi24.ro, noting they had never faced such a situation, especially in New Zealand. Wentsch said she feels a sense of uncertainty about the next day.

"You hear about war on the news, you read articles, but once you stay here, you perceive differently how it feels. Suddenly, because you face this situation directly, it affects you differently than when you read from a distance. It's quite uncomfortable and gives you a sense of uncertainty about what tomorrow might bring, she said. The two cyclists documented what they called the biggest environmental issue of this summer along their journey.