Moldova faces rising tensions as missiles and drones enter airspace
Two missiles flew through the airspace of the Republic of Moldova. Several images related to this event appeared throughout Sunday, November 17, on social media.
These images were taken by residents of the village of Ruseni in the Edineț district. Later, the Government issued a statement confirming that several aircraft had flown through our country's airspace. In this regard, the public was urged to remain calm.
The statement mentions that the aircraft were deliberately launched at low altitude to evade detection by the Ministry of Defense's radars. At the same time, no reports were made of any flying objects falling to the ground on the territory of the Republic of Moldova.
"The massive drone and missile attack by the Russian Federation on Ukraine this morning was monitored by the competent authorities of the Republic of Moldova. Explosions in regions neighbouring the Republic of Moldova were reported by Border Police patrols in Valea Perjei, Tudora, Crocmaz, and Olănești. Meanwhile, in the Larga sector, near Briceni, a missile was observed on the Ukrainian side, and a resident of Groznița, Briceni, reported seeing two drone-like aircraft at an altitude of about 100 metres. While flying over the villages of Rotunda and Halahora de Sus, they disappeared from sight," the statement reads.
In this context, the authorities urged the public to remain calm and to report any suspicious objects or flying machines to the relevant authorities or call 112.
It is worth mentioning that, one week ago, on November 10, two drones were found on our country's territory: one in the village of Fîrlădeni, Căușeni, and another in a field near the village of Borosenii Noi, Rîșcani. On November 12, a third drone was discovered in the Criuleni district. According to the General Inspectorate of Police, the flying object was found in the outskirts of the village of Coșernița.
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, several fragments of drones or missiles have been detected on our territory. The Minister of Defense, Anatolie Nosatîi, previously stated that the radar purchased by the authorities in Chișinău at the end of last year is fully operational and fulfils its mission of monitoring the airspace. However, the Minister added that this system alone is insufficient, and additional radars with greater capabilities are expected to arrive in the country no later than the end of 2025. The first Russian missile to fall in the Republic of Moldova occurred on October 31, 2022, in Naslavcea, Ocnița.
Last night, the Russians launched a combined attack across most regions of Ukraine, using mainly Shahed drones, cruise, ballistic, and air-launched ballistic missiles: "Zircon," "Iskander," and "Kinzhal." A total of about 120 missiles and 90 drones were launched, and Ukrainian air defence forces destroyed over 140 aerial targets, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
