Moldovan authorities reported that a drone entered the country’s airspace overnight and later crashed, with evidence suggesting an explosion occurred before debris was discovered.
According to the Interior Ministry and the Defense Ministry, the unmanned aerial vehicle crossed into Moldova at approximately 12:20 a.m. local time in the area between the Mihailovca–Lopatna border zone. Surveillance systems and cross-border monitoring reportedly tracked the intrusion as it moved into national airspace.
Later in the night, fragments were located in an agricultural field near the village of Lopatna. Officials said the condition of the wreckage pointed to an explosion, though the exact circumstances remain under investigation. The remains are now being analyzed to determine the drone’s origin and trajectory.
“The drone entered Moldova at 12:20 a.m. in the area of the Mikhaylovka–Lopatna border section,” the Defense Ministry said, describing the initial detection of the airspace violation.
Authorities confirmed that specialists from the Interior Ministry inspected the site after the discovery of the debris. The Defense Ministry said investigators identified traces consistent with a detonation prior to impact, while continuing efforts to establish technical details about the device.
