Unidentified Aircraft Enters Moldovan Airspace from Ukraine After Russian Attacks

An unidentified aircraft entered Moldovan airspace from Ukraine near separatist Transnistria and returned along the same route about 10 minutes later, Moldova’s Defense Ministry said Sunday.

The aircraft crossed the border near Dnestrovsc, in southern Transnistria, after flying from Ukraine’s Odesa region. The incident occurred at about 3:50 p.m., and the ministry said the aircraft crossed back into Ukraine at 3:59 p.m. It described the flight as unauthorized and said it followed Russian air attacks on Ukraine.

Romanian defense authorities also issued an alert for northeastern Tulcea county on Sunday. Romanian military radars detected an aerial target near the border with Ukraine, according to the announcement.

The incidents follow a call from Moldovan President Maia Sandu to strengthen the country’s air defenses. During celebrations marking Moldova’s 35th anniversary of independence, Sandu said Moldovan and Romanian airspace had been violated dozens of times and that Russian drones had entered Moldova before the national holiday. “We will not be intimidated,” she said, adding that Moldova would invest in air defense to protect its citizens and infrastructure. She also appealed to free countries to help Ukraine and strengthen its air defenses before winter.

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We will not be intimidated! We will invest in air defense so that we have the capabilities to protect our citizens and infrastructure.