Russian drone breaches Moldovan airspace for eight minutes
A Russian drone breached Moldovan airspace early Thursday, flying over southeastern districts for approximately eight minutes before returning across the Ukrainian border, the country's Defense Ministry said.
Incursion near Purcari
Radar units from the National Army's Air Operations Service tracked the unmanned craft entering Moldovan sovereign airspace at 01:43 from the direction of Gradinita, in Ukraine's Odessa region, heading toward the village of Purcari in the Stefan Voda district. The aircraft left national airspace at 01:51, re-entering Ukrainian territory toward the settlement of Starokazachye.
Heightened air surveillance
Military surveillance units continue to monitor national airspace around the clock in close coordination with state institutions and international security partners, the ministry said. Defense authorities noted that more than 90 Russian missiles and combat drones have unlawfully violated Moldovan airspace since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
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