Moldovan Ministry of Defense: Drone shot down in Galați flew over Moldova for 18 minutes

A military drone, identified as a Shahed 138 (Geran 2), traversed Moldovan airspace for approximately 18 minutes before being shot down in Galați county, Romania. The Ministry of Defense in Chisinau reported that Moldovan air surveillance systems detected the aircraft at 04:31 AM, moving from the Ukrainian locality of Cotlovina in the Reni region.

According to Moldovan authorities, the drone entered their airspace near the village of Etulia in the territorial unit of Găgăuzia. A border patrol unit later heard the drone's noise near the villages of Cîșmichioi in Moldova and Dolinskoe in Ukraine. The unmanned aircraft then exited Moldovan airspace at 04:49 AM near Slobozia Mare, Cahul district, heading towards Șivița in Galați county.

“

Drona venea din localitatea ucraineană Cotlovina, regiunea Reni și a survolat spațiul aerian al Republicii Moldova, prin satul Etulia din Unitatea Teritorială Administrativă Găgăuzia.

Chisinau officials stated that the drone had entered Moldovan territory unauthorized, likely as a consequence of the Russian aerial attacks in Ukraine. The National Army's responsible subdivisions are maintaining continuous cooperation with national institutions and international partners to ensure the safety of Moldovan citizens. The Romanian Ministry of National Defense confirmed that the drone entered Romanian airspace from the direction of Moldova, approximately 24 kilometers north of Galați, and was detected and subsequently downed.

“

Subdiviziunile responsabile din Armata Națională mențin cooperarea permanentă cu instituțiile naționale în domeniu și partenerii internaționali, pentru siguranța cetățenilor Republicii Moldova.