A Russian Shahed-type attack drone breached Moldovan airspace on March 14, as Moscow launched a massive overnight assault on Ukraine involving 430 drones and 58 missiles, the Moldovan Foreign Ministry confirmed.
The drone flew over eastern Moldova toward the villages of Ukrainka and Novosilka before disappearing from radar, prompting officials in Chisinau to condemn the incident as a “serious breach of sovereignty.”
Moldovan Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi warned that the violation underscores the growing risk of spillover from Russia’s war in Ukraine, which is a “serious breach of sovereignty” and security and safety of neighbouring countries, the Kyiv Independent reported.
Moldova, a small landlocked nation bordering Ukraine and Romania, has repeatedly faced airspace intrusions since the 2022 invasion, raising fears that Russian attacks could destabilise the wider region.
We strongly condemn the violation of Moldova’s airspace by a Shahed-type drone this morning,” he said.
“Russia’s war against Ukraine threatens regional security and the safety of our citizens.
The incident adds pressure on NATO and EU partners to monitor and strengthen eastern European defences.
With Moldova’s airspace increasingly at risk, officials are calling for heightened vigilance to prevent accidental escalation and to safeguard civilians from the conflict encroaching beyond Ukraine’s borders.
