Moldova warns Russian envoy could face expulsion over drone remarks
Moldovan Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu said on Thursday that Russian Ambassador-designate Oleg Ozerov could face expulsion after admitting that some military drones crashing on Moldovan territory might belong to Moscow.
Mounting diplomatic strain
Speaking ahead of a parliamentary plenary session on October 2, Grosu criticized the Russian envoy's recent public statements regarding unauthorized drone incursions.
“Everything is possible because he already let slip that they could be their 'birds,' though they forgot to apologize,” Grosu said. “This is shameful and reveals yet again this offensive imperialism.”
When questioned about potential retaliatory diplomatic steps, Grosu declined to specify a timeline, noting that authorities would enforce appropriate measures when deemed necessary.
Escalating airspace risks
The parliamentary chief highlighted the growing danger to civilians as the frequency of unauthorized military aircraft entering Moldovan airspace continues to climb. He pointed to a recent incident in Brănești, situated in the Orhei district, where a drone detonated near a national highway.
“Clearly, the danger is growing, and we must state this honestly,” Grosu said. “People must pay close attention to official alerts and announcements. Meanwhile, we must continue finding interception solutions. Our monitoring capacity is relatively good, but our challenge remains interception so that we avoid creating ground risks for our citizens.”
Addressing social media posts by Socialist leader Igor Dodon, who published images of military hardware reportedly stationed in northern Moldova, Grosu urged law enforcement agencies and the Ministry of Defense to investigate independently. Grosu refrained from further political assessment, remarking that the former president often seeks political victimhood.
Controversial remarks and repeated summons
The diplomatic dispute follows remarks made by Ozerov on September 27, when he conceded that some drones violating Moldovan airspace could originate from Russia during strikes targeting Ukrainian logistics. However, Ozerov insisted that Moldova is not a target and dismissed claims of an impending Russian attack as unfounded.
On October 1, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Ozerov to deliver a formal protest note after three additional drones breached national airspace on September 30, with two exploding on Moldovan soil. Moldovan defense experts identified the downed debris as Russian "Geran" loitering munitions.
In response, Ozerov demanded formal evidence verifying the drones' origin and proposed a joint bilateral investigation before assigning blame. When asked by reporters whether he felt safe in Chișinău amid repeated aerial detonations, Ozerov replied: “I am not afraid of my drones, and I feel safe enough in the Republic of Moldova.”
According to Ministry of Defense records, Moldovan airspace has experienced 85 unauthorized missile and drone incursions since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
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