Unauthorized drone in southern Moldova leads to flight restrictions
On the morning of May 8 at 09:35, a drone flew over the airspace of the Republic of Moldova without authorization. The National Army's Air Operations Service initially detected the drone in the village of Valea Perjei, Taraclia district.
An unmanned aerial vehicle reportedly entered Moldova from Ukraine, specifically near the town of Volinaea.
A few minutes later, at 09:49, a patrol from the Valea Perjei Border Police Sector heard the drone.
According to data from air surveillance systems, the drone crossed over the town of Ceadâr-Lunga, heading toward the village of Moscovei in the Cahul district.
Later, at 10:16, the drone disappeared from radar near the town of Larga Nouă.
In response, Moldova closed its airspace between 09:55 and 10:08, but it was later reopened. However, starting at 10:08, the airspace in the southern part of the country was closed again, as announced by the Ministry of Defense.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the unauthorised overflight of Moldova’s airspace, stating that this serious violation of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is unacceptable.
"Such actions endanger the security of citizens, impact the safety of the airspace, and contribute to increasing security risks in the region," the Ministry noted in a statement. They also reiterated the importance of strictly respecting the sovereignty and airspace of the Republic of Moldova, in accordance with international law.
Since the beginning of the war initiated by the Russian Federation in Ukraine, Moldova’s airspace has been illegally overflown numerous times, with authorities in Chisinau condemning each incident.
Some drones have crashed on national territory—in fields, gardens, or on the roofs of houses—while others were found to contain explosives. Some drones exploded upon impact, whereas others were detonated under controlled conditions by law enforcement officers.
