Moldova – Sandu: Five Russian aircraft violated the airspace and exploded on the territory

– Five Russian aircraft, among them three missiles of the “Banderol” type and two drones, violated Moldova’s airspace on Saturday morning and exploded on the country’s territory, Moldovan authorities announced, as The Kyiv Independent reported.

Moldova’s President Maia Sandu said five Russian aircraft violated the country’s airspace within a period of about 15 minutes, during Russia’s massive attacks on Ukraine during the night of October 2 and 3.

“Five Russian aircraft, including Banderol missiles and drones, violated the airspace and exploded on our territory,” Sandu announced.

She warned that Russia’s war against Ukraine poses a direct risk also to Moldovan citizens.

Moldova’s Defence Minister Anatolie Nosatîi later clarified that the five aircraft were not all drones.

According to him, three were missiles and two drones, while the authorities have documented five cases of them crossing into Moldovan airspace.

According to Moldovan authorities’ data, the incidents were recorded around 07:45–08:00.

Moldova’s Foreign Ministry condemned the violation of the country’s airspace in the context of the Russian attacks on Ukraine.

The authorities called on citizens not to approach the remains of drones or other suspicious objects and to immediately notify the emergency services on the number 112.

In a statement made a day earlier in Helsinki, Sandu said that during 2026 Russian drones had entered Moldova’s airspace more than 45 times, while eight such cases had been recorded only during the last week.

She said Moldova is strengthening its air defence and modernising its army to respond to these risks.

In her reaction after today’s incident, Sandu said Russia must stop the war and that, as long as the attacks on Ukraine continue, Kyiv needs support to protect the population and the security of the region.

According to Moldovan authorities, today’s incidents occurred in the framework of Russia’s broad air attacks on Ukraine.