The Ministry of Defense of Moldova has reported the fall of a drone in the vicinity of the border with Ukraine, after surveillance systems detected the entry of an unmanned aircraft into Moldovan airspace around midnight, in the context of a new wave of Russian attacks against Ukraine.
"After the intervention of specialized units, the discovery of fragments of an unmanned aerial vehicle was confirmed on agricultural land near the town of Lopatna. The remains found at the site indicate that an explosion previously occurred," the Ministry of Defense indicated in a statement.
According to the Ministry, radars registered the incursion into Moldovan airspace of a drone around 00:20 (local time), coming from the Lopatna area. The competent authorities have already opened an investigation and are keeping the situation under constant supervision.
"The fragments found are being examined to determine the origin of the aircraft and the circumstances surrounding the incident. We note that a massive Russian attack with drones and missiles against Ukraine took place tonight," it specified.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has emphasized that "the unauthorized passage of any flying object in Moldovan airspace or its fall on national territory constitutes a threat to national security and a violation of the State's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
In its statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that "it is likely that this one is Ukrainian. Regardless of its origin, the responsibility for any drone that reaches Moldovan territory falls on Russia, which has initiated an illegal war in the neighboring country."
Likewise, the department has expressed its support for the Ukrainian citizens who are "fighting and losing their lives for the freedom of their country, but also for peace in the European continent, including for peace in Moldova."
The Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andri Sibiga, has conveyed Kiev's "full support" to Moldova and has praised its "constant condemnation of Russian aggression." "This incident clearly demonstrates that Moscow represents a threat not only to Ukraine, but to the entire region and Europe in general," he said.
In this regard, he has called on social media to "intensify" the "collective pressure" on Moscow so that "the Kremlin finally faces reality and admits that it will never achieve its objectives on the battlefield," underscoring that Russian President Vladimir Putin's "only way out" is to "put an end to this war."