October 13, 2026

Athens News

News in English from Greece

Ukrainian drone exploded in Moldova: Chisinau blames Moscow


In Moldova near the village Lopatna The drone exploded. Chisinau recognized the Ukrainian origin of the apparatus, but placed responsibility on Russia.

In Moldova on the night of June 8 A drone exploded, the wreckage of which was found near the village Lopatna in the Orhei region, near the border with Ukraine. According to preliminary data from the Moldovan authorities, the device probably had Ukrainian originhowever, Chisinau stated that responsibility for such incidents lies with Russiawhich started a war against neighboring Ukraine.

According to ReutersMoldovan authorities discovered fragments of a drone with traces of an explosion in a field near Lopatny. According to the Ministry of Defense of Moldova, the drone entered the country’s airspace in the area Mikhailovka — Lopatna approximately in 00:20 local time.

Official agency Moldpres reported that the alarm came from a local resident who noticed a flying object, after which an explosion occurred. The area was cordoned off, and police, rescuers and specialists arrived at the scene. According to preliminary data, there were no casualties.

Ukrainian trace and Russian responsibility

The Moldovan Foreign Ministry stated that it is in contact with the Ukrainian authorities. According to preliminary estimates, the drone “highly likely” was of Ukrainian origin. The Ukrainian side, in turn, declared its readiness to cooperate with Chisinau to establish the circumstances of the incident.

At the same time, the Moldovan Foreign Ministry emphasized: regardless of the origin of a particular device, responsibility for the entry of drones into the territory of Moldova lies with Russiasince it is Russia’s war against Ukraine that creates such threats for neighboring countries. This formula is also given by the Ukrainian edition European Pravda.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrei Sibiga said that “another Russian drone fell in Moldova.” “We express our full support to our Moldovan friends and note their consistent condemnation of Russian aggression. This incident clearly demonstrates that Moscow poses a threat not only to Ukraine, but also to the entire region and Europe as a whole,” Sibiga wrote.

In images published online, according to Greek media, Ukrainian inscriptions were visible on the wreckage. However, final conclusions about the type of apparatus, route and causes of the fall should be made by specialists, and not by commentators based on photographs. Photos, of course, like to be turned into “iron proof,” but equipment in war sometimes flies to places where it was not invited.

Moldova increasingly finds itself at risk

The incident occurred against the backdrop of another Russian attack on Ukraine. Moldova has repeatedly reported the fall of drone debris or airspace violations due to the war near its borders. President Maia Sandu previously stated the need to develop means of intercepting drones and strengthen the country’s defense capabilities, despite its neutral status.

For Chisinau, the problem is becoming more and more practical: even if Moldova is not involved in the war, war still regularly comes to its borders – in the form of debris, explosions, alarms and the need to explain to citizens why something is falling over a neutral country again.

Editorial comment

The formula “Russia is to blame” is politically understandable: without the war, such incidents really would not have happened. But from a technical point of view, it is too convenient and too wide. If the drone turned out to be Ukrainianit is necessary to explain not only the root cause of the war, but also the specific mechanics: who launched it, where it was supposed to fly, when it lost control and why it exploded already on the territory of Moldova.

Otherwise, we get strange logic: the device is Ukrainian, the inscriptions are Ukrainian, the route through the Moldovan sky, but the explanation still boils down to the usual universal answer. This formula works in politics. In the investigation – no.



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