Moldova announced negotiations with Ukrainian authorities following drone explosion
Kyiv • UNN
A drone exploded in Moldova, and Chisinau announced negotiations with Ukrainian authorities regarding the drone following the overnight explosion. The country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Russia bears responsibility for the incident due to the initiated war.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova, following reports of a drone crossing the border, published a statement on social media, indicating that it is "in constant negotiations with the Ukrainian authorities regarding the exploded drone" and stated that "regardless of the drone's origin, the responsibility for any drone that reaches the territory of Moldova lies with Russia," UNN reports.
Details
In its first statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova indicated that it "strongly condemns the incident that occurred near the village of Lopatna, Orhei District, where an unidentified aircraft, likely a drone, crashed and exploded on the territory of the Republic of Moldova."
"The unauthorized flight of any flying object in the airspace of the Republic of Moldova or its crash on national territory constitutes a threat to national security and is a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state. This incident once again highlights the risks and consequences posed by the Russian Federation's war of aggression against Ukraine for regional security and for neighboring states," the Moldovan MFA statement reads.
"Faced with these challenges, the Republic of Moldova will continue to strengthen its defense potential and resilience, investing in peace, security, and the protection of its citizens to guarantee the safety of the country and its population," the statement said.
In another statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova indicated that it is "in constant negotiations with the Ukrainian authorities regarding the drone that exploded in Orhei, but according to preliminary data, it is most likely of Ukrainian origin." "Regardless of the drone's origin, the responsibility for any drone that reaches the territory of the Republic of Moldova lies with Russia, which started an illegal war in the neighboring country. We stand in solidarity with the Ukrainians who are fighting and giving their lives for the freedom of their country, as well as for peace on the European continent, including peace in the Republic of Moldova," the second statement from the Moldovan MFA notes.
Prior to the update of the Moldovan MFA statement, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha published a post on X stating that "another Russian drone fell in Moldova during Russia's massive overnight attack on Ukraine."
"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 to the entire region and Europe as a whole. Collective pressure on Russia must be increased so that the Kremlin finally realizes the reality and acknowledges that it will never achieve its goals on the battlefield — therefore, the only way for Putin is to end this war," Sybiha wrote.
As Reuters notes, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian MFA stated that "Kyiv is in close contact with the Moldovan side regarding the details of the incident."