Last Update: 10/22/2026 at 1:00 PM EST

Russian Drone Incursions in Moldova

Coverage from Euronews, EL PAÍS, and others

Russian Drone Incursions in Moldova topic image

Russian drones linked to the war against Ukraine have repeatedly entered Moldovan airspace, with some reported crossings into Romania.

Moldovan authorities have detected incursions and responded with temporary airspace restrictions, at times disrupting operations and delaying or diverting flights at Chisinau International Airport. Shahed drones have been identified in some accounts. These incidents illustrate how drone activity connected to the war can affect neighboring countries’ airspace and civilian aviation, as well as raise cross-border monitoring and response concerns.

Looking Back
54 Day Timeline
Aug 24Sep 2Sep 14Sep 23Oct 5Oct 14
All Articles18 articles
Important7 articles · CI Score 60 and above
Euronews
Moldovan authorities closed national airspace after detecting a suspected Russian Geran-4 drone that crossed Romanian airspace and crashed near Mihailenii Vechi on the same day.
9/10/2026 • Military Drones & Battlefield Use • General
EL PAÍS
Moldova's Defense Ministry reported 56 airspace violations by October 7, 2025, as Russian drones and missiles entered Moldovan skies, prompting calls for stronger detection and interception systems.
10/9/2026 • Counter-Drone & Airspace Security • General
Reuters / Alexander Tanas, Ron Popeski
Moldovan authorities said five drones identified as Russian crashed in Moldova on Thursday and Friday, causing minor damage and lightly injuring one person.
10/16/2026 • Military Drones & Battlefield Use • General
The New York Times
Moldovan authorities temporarily closed central airspace Tuesday after a Russian drone entered from Ukraine, delaying seven flights including Volodymyr Zelensky's departure from Chisinau.
9/10/2026 • Counter-Drone & Airspace Security • General
Reuters / Tom Balmforth, Gwladys Fouche and Alexander Tanas
Moldovan authorities closed the country's airspace on Tuesday after two Russian drones entered Moldovan territory, delaying Volodymyr Zelenskiy's departure and several civilian flights.
9/9/2026 • Counter-Drone & Airspace Security • General
DroneXL / Haye Kesteloo
Moldova tracked a Shahed-type drone on September 8 as Romania restricted airports and NATO aircraft launched, while evidence remained insufficient to verify danger to Volodymyr Zelenskyy's aircraft.
9/9/2026 • Counter-Drone & Airspace Security • General
Fox News / Chris Massaro
Russian drones violated Moldovan airspace repeatedly in 2025 as strikes near Ukraine's border threatened grain routes and heightened security concerns in Moldova and Europe.
9/3/2026 • Military Drones & Battlefield Use • General
Interesting11 articles · CI Score 45–59
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty / Mike Eckel
Moldovan authorities reported rising Russian drone and missile incursions, including 17 drone incidents in August, across Moldovan airspace and territory as Moldova continued seeking medium-range defenses.
10/8/2026 • Counter-Drone & Airspace Security • General
AOL / Aidan Stretch
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Russian drones targeted his aircraft over Moldova, while another Russian drone struck a diplomatic train in Ukraine and NATO jets downed a drone over Lithuania.
9/15/2026 • Counter-Drone & Airspace Security • General
Arkansas Online
Moldovan authorities temporarily closed national airspace Tuesday after a Russian drone entered from Ukraine, delaying Volodymyr Zelenskyy's flight and other civilian aviation near Chisinau.
9/11/2026 • Counter-Drone & Airspace Security • General
NWAonline
Moldovan authorities temporarily closed central airspace Tuesday after a Russian drone entered near Chisinau, delaying Volodymyr Zelenskyy's flight and other civilian departures.
9/11/2026 • Counter-Drone & Airspace Security • General
WHMI
Russian Shahed drones entered Moldovan and Romanian airspace on Tuesday, disrupting Chisinau airport operations and delaying Volodymyr Zelenskyy's flight to Oslo.
9/10/2026 • Counter-Drone & Airspace Security • General
ZeroHedge / Tyler Durden
Moldovan authorities reported that a suspected Shahed-type drone entered Moldovan airspace on September 8 and nearly encountered Volodymyr Zelensky's aircraft departing for Norway.
9/10/2026 • Counter-Drone & Airspace Security • General
KEYT
Moldovan authorities temporarily closed national airspace on Tuesday after two Russian drones entered near Chisinau, disrupting flights and delaying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's departure.
9/9/2026 • Counter-Drone & Airspace Security • General
Fox News / Emma Bussey
Two Russian drones disrupted Chisinau International Airport in Moldova on Tuesday, delaying Volodymyr Zelenskyy's flight and prompting one drone to enter Romanian airspace.
9/10/2026 • Counter-Drone & Airspace Security • General
Business Insider / Matthew Loh
Moldovan officials said a Russian Shahed drone entered Moldovan airspace Tuesday near Zelenskyy's departure, temporarily closing airspace before crashing in Glodeni without casualties.
9/10/2026 • Regulation, Safety & Airspace Integration • General
The Kyiv Independent / Kate Tsurkan
Moldova's Defense Ministry reported four Russian drones entered Moldovan airspace overnight on October 15-16 during an attack on Ukraine.
10/16/2026 • Counter-Drone & Airspace Security • General
Kyiv Post
Moldovan and Romanian defense authorities responded early Monday to an unidentified drone crossing Moldovan airspace from Ukraine toward Romania near Cahul and Galati.
8/24/2026 • Counter-Drone & Airspace Security • General