Moldova said Monday it would recall its ambassador to Russia for consultations after an unidentified drone crashed and exploded near its border with Ukraine.
The drone crashed into a tree line near the southern village of Crocmaz across the border from Ukraine’s Odesa region on Sunday afternoon. Police, which did not report any injuries, said debris was scattered over a wide area and damaged several nearby homes.
The debris contained components matching guided missile technology, Moldovan officials said, marking the first time an aircraft of this type was detected on Moldovan territory since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Chisinau said it summoned its ambassador in Russia back home for consultations, calling the incident a “grave violation of Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” that risks the safety of its citizens.
“Moldova condemns Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its impact on the security of our country and the broader region,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu also condemned the crash on Monday, calling it a “direct consequence” of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“It puts us all in danger. The threat to human life in our region is real and continues to grow. This must stop,” Sandu wrote on X.
The timing of the drone explosion coincided with Sunday afternoon reports of Russian shelling of Odesa, which Moscow has been targeting in an attempt to cut Ukraine off from the Black Sea.
Airspace intrusions in Eastern Europe have become more frequent as Russia targets Ukrainian port infrastructure near the borders of both Moldova and neighboring Romania.
Moldova had repeatedly summoned Russia’s ambassador in Chisinau following similar drone crashes. It has also moved to close a Kremlin-funded cultural center in Chisinau.
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