Moldovan airspace was closed for over an hour on Friday evening after authorities discovered two Russian drones flying over the Eastern European country.
Authorities at the Moldovan Foreign Ministry on Saturday said the drones were identified as Russian and that they quickly flew over Moldova on their way to Ukraine.
Friday’s flyovers follow two similar incidents the past two weeks in which Moldovan authorities discovered Russian drones over their country. Moldovan officials condemned the incursions and summoned Oleg Ozerov, Russia’s ambassador to Moldova, to answer for the incidents.
Moscow has denied any involvement in the incursions and has implied that the accusations are meant to divide Russia and Moldova further.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu has emerged as a sharp critic of Moscow and its war with Ukraine. Over the past three years, she has worked to develop relations with fellow critics in Europe and hopes to integrate Moldova into the European Union by the end of the decade.
Similar drone incursions have been reported across Europe the past few months, inviting questions about NATO’s ability to defend its airspace.
Several NATO leaders have proposed creating a drone wall, a defense system that could eliminate enemy drones traveling westward.
