Oleg Ozerov summoned to the MFA after May 13 drone incident, called a “serious and unacceptable violation”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) summoned on Monday, May 18, the Russian Federation's ambassador-at-large in Chisinau, Oleg Ozerov, following the violation of the Republic of Moldova's airspace by an unmanned aerial vehicle that illegally flew over the state border on May 13.
During the meeting, the Moldovan delegation presented a note of protest addressing a "serious and inadmissible violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova." They emphasized that such incidents pose a threat to citizen safety and regional stability.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) requested official explanations and reaffirmed the importance of respecting the Republic of Moldova's airspace in accordance with international law, as stated in the institution's announcement.
Oleg Ozerov left the MFA headquarters without making any comments.
On May 13, at 4:00 p.m., an unauthorized drone flew over the airspace of the Republic of Moldova from north to south, specifically from Ocnița to Hâncești. In response, authorities activated monitoring systems and took temporary measures to restrict air traffic in the northern part of the country.
The Speaker of the Parliament, Igor Grosu, remarked that this violation of airspace underscores the need to strengthen the country's defense capabilities. In addition to issuing official protest notes and condemnations, the authorities are exploring other intervention options, Grosu added.
Previously, on May 8 at 9:35 a.m., another unauthorized drone was detected in the airspace of the Republic of Moldova. The drone was initially identified by the Air Operations Service of the National Army in the Valea Perjei locality of the Taraclia district, prompting a closure of the country's airspace.
Since the onset of the war initiated by the Russian Federation in Ukraine, the airspace of the Republic of Moldova has been illegally violated numerous times, with each incident condemned by the authorities in Chisinau.
Some drones have crashed in fields, gardens, or on rooftops, and several were found to have explosives on board. While some drones exploded upon impact with the ground, others were detonated under controlled conditions by law enforcement officers.
