Another drone in Moldova: the 64th since the Ukraine war started

On the morning of Sunday, August 16, the airspace surveillance systems of the National Army detected an unauthorized aircraft entering the territory of the Republic of Moldova. This incident occurred in the context of the air strikes launched by the Russian Federation in Ukraine. The aircraft flew over Moldovan airspace for 18 minutes.

Kremlin hardline stance triggers €2.5B Moscow stock selloff

Russian equities registered their sharpest single-day decline since September 2022 on Friday, as escalating geopolitical rhetoric shattered investor hopes for a cease-fire in Ukraine.

Non-merging Moldovan towns face mandatory merger, loss of grants

Localities with fewer than 3,000 residents that refuse voluntary merger face mandatory consolidation by statutory decree ahead of the 2027 local elections, government officials confirmed.

Kyiv targets Russian space plant Progress and Savasleika base

Ukrainian forces launched long-range missile and drone strikes targeting key Russian defense, aerospace, and energy infrastructure hundreds of kilometers behind the border.

Stolen €9M Renoir, Cézanne and Matisse art found in Italy

Italian police have recovered three stolen French masterpieces valued at over €9 million (approx. 177 million MDL) following a raid on a suspect's home near Parma. The paintings by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, and Henri Matisse were stolen in March from a private museum in northern Italy.

Moldova moves to ban politically affiliated heads at Gagauz GRT

Candidates applying for the directorship of Gagauzia’s public broadcaster, GRT, must have no recent political affiliation under proposed amendments to Moldova's Media Audiovisual Services Code.

Russia weaponizes anti-terror laws to jail online speech

Russian courts convicted at least 1,234 people under anti-terrorism legislation in the first half of 2026, marking a sharp escalation in judicial prosecutions compared to the same period last year.

Suspected missile strike ignites fire at Samara defense hub

Emergency alerts sounded across Russia’s Samara Region overnight on August 15 following a reported missile threat. Shortly after, eyewitnesses shared photos and videos showing explosions and thick plumes of smoke rising over an industrial zone.

SMURD team evacuates young survivor of Halkidiki crash

A seven-year-old girl, the sole survivor of a fatal car accident in Greece that claimed the lives of her parents and six-month-old sister, arrived in Chisinau overnight on August 15. Nearly a month after the tragedy, she was admitted to the Mother and Child Institute for ongoing medical treatment.

Moldova border police report heavy exit traffic at Leuseni

Heavy outbound traffic involving both passengers and vehicles was reported on Saturday morning at the Leușeni–Albița border crossing on the border between Moldova and Romania.

Moldova gives investors more time for €6.2M state asset bids

Moldova's Public Property Agency (APP) has extended the application deadline for the privatization of four major state-owned enterprises from August 19 to October 19. The auctions will now take place on October 20.

Moldova pushes local government mergers ahead of 2027

Moldovan Government Secretary-General Alexei Buzu has defended the timeline for the country's voluntary municipal merger reform, rejecting criticism from local authorities over tight deadlines and insufficient consultations.