Moldova recalls ambassador to Moscow after suspected missile-drone blast

Moldova has recalled its ambassador to Moscow following an explosion of a suspected missile-drone near the village of Crocmaz in the Ștefan Vodă district. The Foreign Ministry stated that the incident represents a serious violation of Moldova's sovereignty and territorial integrity, endangering the safety of its citizens. The ministry strongly condemned Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and its impact on regional security.

Police reported on August 10 that a suspected combat drone had exploded near Crocmaz the previous day, damaging several private properties. Investigators discovered fragments of an attack drone at the scene, which had collided with a tree in a forest belt at an altitude of about 2.5 meters. The aircraft's explosion occurred after colliding with the tree, causing the fragments to scatter across a large area and damage properties in Crocmaz.

No one was injured, but the incident marked the first of its kind on Moldovan territory. The explosion occurred on Moldova's border with Ukraine's Odesa Oblast, which suffered 14 injuries and property damage in a large-scale Russian attack on August 9. The Ukrainian Air Force reported the use of various weapons, including Banderol loitering munitions, against the region. Moldovan authorities have previously found fragments of Russian Geran drones in the country.