Explosion occurs in Moldova near border with Ukraine, possibly caused by drone

Moldova has launched an investigation into the explosion of an unidentified object near the village of Crocmaz on the border with Ukraine. A drone may have caused the explosion.

Source: European Pravda, citing NewsMaker

Quote: "Specialised units have been dispatched to the scene. They will carry out all necessary measures and establish the circumstances of the incident."

Details: At around 02:30 on 2 September, Moldovan border guards near the village of Tudora heard a sound resembling a missile flying overhead. At 02:38, a powerful explosion occurred, which was also heard by a nearby patrol.

The Ukrainian side reported that an air-raid warning was in effect in Odesa Oblast at the time due to Russian attacks.

Moldovan radars did not detect any violations of the country's airspace, and initial patrols of the area failed to locate the site of the explosion.

Border guards later received information from a local resident who said he had heard a loud explosion on Moldovan territory while travelling between villages, prompting a search of the area.

At around 07:00, a scorched patch of ground and pieces of metal and plastic were discovered on the outskirts of Crocmaz, 6 km from the Ukrainian border.

People who hear sounds resembling a missile or drone flying overhead, or explosions, are advised to take shelter inside a building and not to approach any suspicious wreckage they may find.

Crocmaz is located near the Maiaky-Udobne-Palanca border crossing, through which virtually the only currently available transit road between the northern and southern parts of Odesa Oblast runs.

Background:

• Russia has recently carried out strikes on several border crossings between Ukraine and Moldova and Romania. On the night of 31 August-1 September, Russian Shahed drones attacked the Orlivka international ferry crossing on the Ukrainian-Romanian border, forcing it to suspend operations.
• Earlier, the Vynohradivka road border crossing between Ukraine and Moldova came under attack. It has since resumed operations.

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