Defense Minister: Russian Federation continues to represent main threat to state’s military security

Defense Minister Anatolie Nosatîi said today after the cabinet meeting that the Republic of Moldova must strengthen its alert and defense systems after a drone that violated the country’s airspace on Tuesday crashed in an agricultural area near the village of Mihăilenii Vechi, Rîșcani district. The minister announced that with the support of the European Union, the Republic of Moldova is set to acquire an integrated medium-range air defense system.

Anatolie Nosatîi noted that the authorities must draw conclusions from the incidents caused by the war in Ukraine and invest in capabilities that can protect the population.


“We must take every measure to protect the state and its citizens. We must invest in warning systems and defense systems,” the minister said.


The official stated that the drone was monitored throughout its violation of the airspace of the Republic of Moldova, for more than one hour.


“All the information was made public live. Everyone had access to see that Moldova has the capacity to monitor its airspace,” Nosatîi said.


He noted that aircraft are used with different tactics and characteristics, including in terms of altitude and speed, making it difficult to detect all violations.

In the context of these incidents, Nosatîi announced that the Republic of Moldova is set to receive an air defense system funded through €120 million in European support.

According to the minister, the European Union approved assistance for the Republic of Moldova for 2026 through the European Peace Facility, intended for the acquisition of a medium-range air defense system.


“It is an integrated system for detecting and destroying aerial targets,” Anatolie Nosatîi explained.


The defense minister said that the authorities are currently negotiating and talks with the European Union team are planned for next week to establish the system’s details. Subsequently, after the solution is approved, it will be submitted to the manufacturing company, which will determine the production and delivery terms.

Nosatîi warned that the three-year delivery period being discussed is not guaranteed.


“We are not sure that this advanced system will be delivered within the established three-year period. It may take even longer,” the minister said.


He explained that developing air defense systems is a lengthy process, including for countries with economies and military capabilities more advanced than those of the Republic of Moldova.

He said that since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, approximately 70 incidents involving objects or aircraft associated with the conflict have been recorded in the Republic of Moldova.


“The Russian Federation continues to represent the main threat to the state’s military security, and these incidents demonstrate this,” the minister said.


According to him, the effects of the war are not limited to people on the ground but also affect air traffic. In Tuesday’s incident, the airspace of the Republic of Moldova was temporarily closed to avoid risks to passengers and aircraft using the country’s air routes.

The minister said that the authorities do not rule out incidents with more serious consequences as long as the war continues.


“We do not rule out fatalities in the coming period, as long as the war continues,” Nosatîi said, referring to the risks that attacks on Ukraine may pose to neighboring states.


The minister also drew attention to the danger posed by drones carrying explosive charges and fragmentation elements.

According to him, the explosion of a payload containing 50–90 kilograms of explosives could pose a major danger to people near the site, within an estimated distance of 300–1,000 meters.

In the event that unknown objects are identified, Anatolie Nosatîi urged citizens not to approach them and to notify the authorities.


“If unknown objects are discovered, please contact the state institutions so that they can take the necessary measures, and also secure the area until the law enforcement authorities arrive,” the minister said.


A drone crashed on Tuesday in a sunflower field outside the village of Mihăilenii Vechi, Rîșcani district. As a result, four fires broke out. No injuries were reported. The incident was reported after the authorities announced that an unmanned aerial vehicle had entered the airspace of the Republic of Moldova without authorization from Ukraine. Shortly afterward, it left the country’s airspace, heading toward Romania. Later, the drone returned from the direction of Iași, and the crash of an aircraft was reported.

At the same time, Starokazachie border crossing in Ukraine, located near the border with the Republic of Moldova was attacked by a drone on the night of September 8–9. Following the attack, two civilians were killed and two others were injured.