Police discovered remnants of a Russian drone near the Moldovan border with Ukraine, sparking renewed support from President Maia Sandu for Kyiv in its ongoing conflict with Moscow.
The war between Ukraine and Russia has impacted Moldova, with occasional reports of weapon fragments found on Moldovan territory. Sandu, who is focused on securing EU membership for Moldova, has identified Russia and corruption as the country’s two biggest threats.
A police statement revealed that the fragments were found near the village of Etulia. Images shared online depicted three piles of shattered metal and electronic parts in a field. The area was cordoned off and posed no danger to the local residents.
The statement cited Ukrainian authorities as stating that the Iranian-made Shahed drone had been downed on its way to Ukraine’s Danube port of Ismail, which is frequently targeted by Russia.
Sandu expressed her concern about the situation, stating, “Russia’s war on Ukraine hits close to home in Moldova — again,” on X, formerly Twitter.
“The discovery of Shahed drone debris in southern Moldova today serves as another stark reminder of the grim reality we face. Russia’s aggression endangers the entire continent. Support for Ukraine must continue,” Sandu said.
Reuters was unable to verify the incident independently and Russian authorities had not responded to a request for comment at the time.
Sandu has accused Russia of attempting to remove her from power in a coup. The Kremlin, on the other hand, has accused her of engaging in Russophobia.
(Reporting by Ronald Popeski; Editing by Mark Porter)
