Shahed-type drone used by Russia to attack Ukraine enters Moldova's airspace
Moldova's Defence Ministry has confirmed a violation of the country's airspace after reports appeared on social media of a drone filmed over Bălți. The type of aircraft has not been specified in the official statement, but the footage indicates that it was a Shahed-type UAV.
Source: European Pravda, citing Newsmaker, a Russian-language online media outlet based in Moldova
Details: On 13 May, Moldova's Defence Ministry confirmed that the aircraft entered the country's airspace at 16:00 near Ukraine's town of Mohyliv-Podilskyi.
Quote from Moldova's Defence Ministry: "At 16:05, local residents spotted the drone over Bălți. It was moving towards the Ungheni district. At 16:19, the UAV was detected by National Army surveillance systems near the village of Lăpușna in the Hîncești district."
More details: The ministry added that the aircraft continued on a southerly course.
The incident prompted the temporary closure of airspace over northern Moldova.
Background:
- Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine on the day of 13 May, using numerous attack UAVs.
- This was far from the first incident in which Russian drones entered the airspace of Moldova and Romania or crashed on the territory of these countries.
- Moldova's airspace was also closed on 8 May because of an unidentified drone. The latest incident in Romania occurred in early May.
- Moldovan President Maia Sandu said Moldova wanted to obtain technology to counter such UAVs before they caused tragedies or destruction.
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