Moldova to build drone shelters near Ukrainian border amid escalating Russian attacks

Moldova intends to construct protective shelters near Ukrainian border checkpoints to safeguard border guards and residents in the event of escalating drone attacks from Russia. This announcement came on October 7, following a surge in unauthorized drone incursions over Moldovan airspace in recent weeks, according to Moldovan Interior Minister Daniella Misail-Nichitin. The government plans to relocate some border guards stationed on the Ukrainian side, currently at Kryva and Palanka stations, to the Moldovan side.

Ukrainian officials are concurrently discussing border security improvements with neighboring nations to address the rising security concerns due to the escalating drone incursions. The issue has been further highlighted by multiple drone crashes in Moldovan territory during Russia's full-scale war, with incidents occurring within the past two weeks alone.

One such incident involved a projectile fired during a Russian attack on Ukraine on October 5, which ricocheted and struck a passenger bus and a border control booth at the Palanca-Maiaky-Udobne crossing, resulting in minor injuries to a border guard.

Moldovan Prime Minister Vasile Tofan emphasized the increasing complexity of the security environment surrounding Moldova during a press conference in Brussels on October 5, stating that Russian drones and missiles pose a significant threat to the country's population and infrastructure. On October 3, a Russian overnight attack against Ukraine saw five Russian air attack weapons, including Banderol missiles and drones, violate Moldovan airspace and explode on its territory.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu condemned these attacks on social media, describing them as Moscow putting lives at risk across Europe and urging the Russian leadership to stop its actions.