Moldova denies sending protest note to Ukraine over border guards' Dniester crossing
The two Ukrainian border guards had entered Moldova in a motorboat on Oct. 15 while attempting to detain a Ukrainian man crossing the Dniester River near Holosnita, along the Vinnytsia Oblast border.
Moldova's Foreign Ministry has refuted claims that it had sent a diplomatic protest to Ukraine following an incident involving two Ukrainian border guards crossing into Moldovan territory. Despite a previous statement by a senior Moldovan lawmaker, the Ministry denied issuing a protest note and stated that the matter was being handled through official diplomatic channels.
The incident occurred on October 15 when two Ukrainian border guards attempted to detain a Ukrainian man crossing the Dniester River near Holosnita, situated along the border with Ukraine's Vinnytsia Oblast. Moldovan Border Police apprehended the guards, and prosecutors initiated criminal proceedings for the illegal crossing, as per Article 362 of Moldova's Criminal Code.
Ukraine's State Border Guard Service spokesperson, Andrii Demchenko, explained that the man resisted arrest, leading to the border guards' boat drifting onto the Moldovan side due to low water levels and engine failure. The two guards were subsequently returned to Ukraine following negotiations between authorities. The Ukrainian man the guards were pursuing remains in Moldova and has been hospitalized, requesting asylum, as he sought to reunite with family members who had fled Ukraine due to the ongoing conflict.
The incident unfolded amidst increased security concerns in Moldova following Russia's war against Ukraine, which saw four Russian drones cross Moldovan airspace on the night of October 15–16, a move that drew condemnation from Moldova's Foreign Ministry.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
