Moldova summoned Russia's ambassador on Thursday after it said Russian drones crashed on its territory, while also announcing the closure of a Kremlin-funded cultural center in connection to the incident.
Airspace intrusions have become frequent since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with Moscow regularly targeting Ukrainian port infrastructure near the borders of both Moldova and Romania.
"Shahed drones violated our airspace, two exploded on our soil, putting Moldovan lives at risk," Moldovan President Maia Sandu wrote on X, condemning Moscow's war against Ukraine.
Moldova's Foreign Ministry said it summoned the Russian Ambassador Oleg Ozerov to demand an explanation and "strongly protest these unacceptable actions." Ozerov has been called in over similar incidents in the past.
The ministry also said it would begin the process of shutting down the local branch of Rossotrudnichestvo, a Russian state-funded cultural diplomacy agency, known as the Russian Center of Science and Culture.
After he was summoned Thursday and shown the drone fragments, Ozerov questioned whether they were from a Russian unmanned aircraft.
"How do you know they're Russian?" Ozerov asked reporters outside Moldova's Foreign Ministry building. "We don't rule out provocations by third parties.”
But the Russian envoy also acknowledged that the drone explosion may have been an "unfortunate accident."
"Moldova is not a party to the [Russian-Ukrainian] conflict, and Russia has no intentions of aggravating the situation in relations with Moldova," Ozerov said.
Moldova's border police reported that "several" drones crossed into its airspace overnight, with two crashing in fields. Later, authorities said additional drone fragments had been found in a third location.
No casualties were reported.
Meanwhile, Romania's Defense Ministry said its radar systems detected "an aerial target that briefly crossed national airspace" near the Ukrainian port of Reni overnight. Officials launched a search for a potential impact site.
Romania, a NATO member, condemned Russia's continued attacks on Ukraine, which have repeatedly led to security concerns on the military bloc's eastern flank.
AFP contributed reporting.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
