President condemns Russian attacks on Ukraine: Much greater pressure must be brought to bear on Russia to put end to these actions

President Maia Sandu today sent a message condemning last night’s Russian attacks on Ukraine, as a result of which the airspace of our country was once again violated and a drone reached the territory of the Republic of Moldova.

The head of state said that Russia must be placed under much greater pressure to put an end to these actions.

“We strongly condemn last night’s Russian attacks on Ukraine, which killed civilians and damaged homes, a school, and a hospital. Our airspace was violated again, and a drone reached the territory of the Republic of Moldova. Russia must be placed under much greater pressure to put an end to these actions,” Maia Sandu wrote on platform X.

The airspace of our country was overflown last night by a drone following the air attacks carried out by the Russian Federation on Ukraine. According to the Ministry of Defense, the unauthorized flight was detected at 03:16. The drone illegally crossed the state border from Ukraine, in the area of Cotlovina, Reni region, and moved in the direction of the village of Etulia, in Gagauzia. The object left the airspace of the Republic of Moldova at 03:22, moving from the direction of Etulia towards Ukraine.

At the same time, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) announced today that two incidents caused by drones were recorded near the state border of the Republic of Moldova, in the Giurgiulești area, following Russian attacks on the port infrastructure in Reni, Ukraine. The first incident occurred around 03:45, when a patrol from the Giurgiulești Border Police Sector, on duty at the Giurgiulești-Reni Border Crossing Point, observed an explosion in a truck parking lot on the territory of Ukraine, approximately 150 meters from the border crossing point. Following the explosion, a vegetation fire broke out, spreading over an area estimated at 70–100 square meters and reaching the territory of the Republic of Moldova. It was contained at 04:30.

A second incident was recorded at 09:25. The mobile patrol of the Giurgiulești Border Police Sector discovered, about one kilometer from the state border, on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, a crater containing the remains of a drone. Among these were identified the engine, the power board, and elements of the propeller. The area was secured, and the 112 Service was alerted to the scene. The operational team of the Cahul Police Inspectorate is conducting investigations, while experts from the technical–explosive section are examining the origin of the aircraft, its route, and the circumstances of the incident.

At least 13 people were killed and another 41 injured in a massive attack launched by Russia on Ukraine on the night of August 20, with most victims recorded in Kyiv and Kyiv region, according to Ukrainian authorities.