CHISINAU, November 26, 2025 – Moldova has officially lodged a protest against Russia following multiple incursions of drones into its airspace, calling the actions “absolutely unacceptable” and a serious violation of national sovereignty, according to the Moldovan Foreign Ministry.

On Wednesday, Moldova summoned Russia’s Ambassador Oleg Ozerov to formally complain about the drone incidents, which occurred near the Ukrainian border and at points along the path toward Romania, a European Union member state. The move comes amid heightened tensions between Moldova and Russia, as Moldova’s pro-European government continues to condemn the Kremlin’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and accuses Moscow of attempting to destabilize the ex-Soviet nation.

Details of the Drone Incursions

Moldovan authorities reported six drone intrusions on Tuesday, including one drone that landed on a roof in the village of Floresti and another that passed through Moldovan airspace before continuing toward Romania. The drone found on the roof weighed 18 kilograms (39 pounds), and was publicly displayed by the Moldovan Foreign Ministry as Ambassador Ozerov entered.

Moldovan officials described the incidents as a direct threat to national and regional security, signaling their growing concern over Russia’s increasing airspace violations.

Russia’s Response

Ambassador Ozerov downplayed the incident, suggesting that the drone landing was unlikely a genuine violation and instead represented an effort to strain Moldova-Russia relations, which he described as “already at their lowest point in history.” He further claimed that many such operations could be false flag actions, aimed at inflaming anti-Russian sentiment.

NATO’s Involvement

The drone activity prompted a rapid response from NATO fighter jets. Romanian and German jets were scrambled near Romania’s border with Ukraine to intercept a drone that had penetrated deeper into Romanian airspace than ever before. This illustrates the broader security implications for Eastern Europe as drone incursions increasingly affect multiple countries.

Ongoing Diplomatic Tensions

This marks the second formal complaint by Moldova regarding drone activity in as many weeks. Relations between the two countries have been strained for months, with diplomat expulsions on both sides, the most recent occurring in April 2025. Ambassador Ozerov has also yet to be formally invited to present his credentials to President Maia Sandu, despite being stationed in Moldova for over a year.

Moldova’s repeated complaints reflect concerns about the escalating security risks posed by Russian unmanned aerial systems and the potential implications for regional stability along the Ukraine-Romania-Moldova corridor.