Moldovan Defense Minister Anatolie Nosatii said about 60 violations of the country's airspace had been recorded since 2022, adding that the war in Ukraine had increased security risks for neighboring countries.
Speaking to journalists in the capital, Chisinau, on Tuesday, Nosatii said Moldovan authorities had identified some of the objects involved in recent incidents as "Russian drones." The minister said the incidents had raised concerns about civilian safety and the impact of the conflict on neighboring countries such as Moldova.
Nosatii said the approximately 60 airspace violations showed that the war was also affecting neighboring countries.
The Moldovan defense minister also argued that Russia's military activities in Ukraine posed a risk to Moldova. Nosatii claimed that Moscow was pursuing policies that threatened Moldova's neutrality and the safety of its people.
A drone explodes near Talmaza
Nosatii's remarks came after Moldovan authorities said on Monday that a drone had exploded near the village of Talmaza in the Ștefan Vodă district. A fire broke out in the area after the explosion, but no one was injured.
Moldova's Foreign Ministry described the explosion as a serious violation of the country's sovereignty. However, the cause of the drone's explosion and its origin have not been independently established.