Extended drone over Moldova highlights defense priorities, Grosu
A drone illegally flew over Moldova's airspace for more than 20 minutes on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 13, leading to a suspension of flights for approximately 50 minutes. This incident further emphasizes the necessity of strengthening the country's defense capabilities, according to Igor Grosu, the Speaker of Parliament.
"We see the repercussions of the war. This incident serves as further proof that we must continue to strengthen our capabilities and invest in protecting critical infrastructure to be prepared for such situations," commented Igor Grosu before the Parliament session on May 14.
The Parliament Speaker believes the Ambassador of the Russian Federation should be summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs following this incident. "I think he must be summoned. He should be confronted every time," Grosu pointed out.
In addition to official condemnations and protest notes, the Speaker mentioned that the authorities are evaluating other intervention options, though he did not provide specific details at the moment. "We are all united in this. However, when the time is right, it will be announced. Symbolically, this would be a significant gesture, carrying emotional weight. Practically, things will not change because the ambassador represents an aggressor state. Issues or incidents of this nature will be resolved once the war ends. Until then, there is a noticeable dissonance between the dictator's declarations and the reality on the ground," said the Speaker of Parliament.
Grosu emphasized that the Republic of Moldova must focus its resources on enhancing security and defense capabilities rather than on symbolic actions. "We must channel our energies and resources into strengthening our defense capabilities. Having one less individual on our territory will not enhance our defense. While symbolically it is a political message, that message will quickly lose its impact," he stated.
At the beginning of the Parliament session, Deputy Speaker Doina Gherman condemned both the violation of the Republic of Moldova's airspace and the message posted on social media by Ion Chicu, a deputy from the "Alternativa" Bloc. Chicu, a former Prime Minister and current member of the Parliamentary Committee for Foreign Policy, had written on Facebook, "We express deep gratitude to Russia for the frequent violations of our airspace with your Shaheds. You help us a lot." Although he later deleted the post, Gherman underscored the seriousness of such remarks.
"We firmly condemn these irresponsible statements regarding the violation of our airspace and the safety of citizens in the Republic of Moldova, as well as the aggression provoked by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. We call on all political forces to take our country's security seriously. Our common goal should be to preserve and cherish peace. It is unacceptable for a public figure to incite war, thereby endangering the safety and security of our people," Gherman stated.
We remind you that on May 13, starting at 4:00 p.m., an unauthorised drone flew over the airspace of the Republic of Moldova, travelling from north to south, specifically from Ocnița to Hâncești. In response, the authorities activated their monitoring systems and implemented temporary measures to restrict air traffic in the northern part of the country.
On the previous Friday, May 8, at 9:35 a.m., another unauthorized drone was detected by the Air Operations Service of the National Army while flying over the Republic of Moldova. This incident occurred in the Valea Perjei locality of the Taraclia district, leading to the immediate closure of the country's airspace.
Since the onset of the war initiated by the Russian Federation in Ukraine, there have been numerous illegal incursions into the airspace of the Republic of Moldova, with the authorities in Chișinău condemning these incidents each time.
Some of the drones have crashed in fields, gardens, or on roofs, and several carried explosives. Some drones exploded upon impact, while others were detonated by law enforcement in a controlled manner.
