Moldova moves injured Ukrainian swimmer to asylum facility
Moldovan authorities transferred an injured Ukrainian psychologist to an asylum center on Monday after he was reportedly assaulted by Ukrainian border guards while swimming across the Dniester River.
Hospital discharge and asylum request
Alexei Koval, a 49-year-old clinical psychologist from Kyiv, was discharged from the Soroca District Hospital following treatment for cranial trauma and hypothermia suffered during the October 15 crossing. The General Inspectorate for Migration (IGM) placed him in its regional center in Bălți after he formally lodged an asylum application with Moldovan authorities.
“The patient's condition has improved and is now satisfactory,” said Nina Spoialo, deputy director of Soroca District Hospital, confirming his transfer coordinated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Moldovan migration officials declined to elaborate on the details of his application, citing statutory data privacy protections.
Cross-border incident and bilateral readmission
Witnesses reported that two armed Ukrainian border guards pursued Koval in a motorized boat and struck him in the water near the village of Holoșnița before local Moldovan residents intervened to pull him ashore. Moldovan border patrols subsequently intercepted the Ukrainian servicemen and impounded their vessel, launching a criminal inquiry into illegal state border crossing.
Moldovan authorities returned the two guards to Ukraine on October 18 under a bilateral readmission agreement, though they remain subject to official summonses for questioning. Andriy Demchenko, spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, stated that the vessel crossed into Moldovan waters due to river currents, shallow shallows, and engine failure.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
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