Jet-powered drones crash in Anenii Noi and Orhei; Moldova hands Russia a protest note

On 30 September 2026, during massive Russian attacks on Ukraine, Moldova's Ministry of Defence recorded three unauthorised drone flights: one fell and exploded at about 05:43 outside Hîrbovăț (Anenii Noi), one was tracked from Lunga (Dubăsari) until it vanished near Arionești (Dondușeni), and a third, reported at 20:45, disappeared from radar near Brănești (Orhei). Police said the Hîrbovăț drone exploded about 40 metres above ground after hitting a telecommunications mast, and investigators near Ivancea (Orhei) reportedly found fragments marked 'Gheran-4' and a turbojet engine. On 1 October the MFA summoned Russia's ambassador-designate Oleg Ozerov and handed him a protest note. Earlier, before dawn on 18 September, an explosion near Colonița on the edge of Chișinău left debris of a turbojet-powered drone, but no official attribution was made.

Established by. MFA protest note to Oleg Ozerov, 1 Oct 2026 (via news.ro / Știri pe surse): 'Republica Moldova condamnă cu toată fermitatea această încălcare gravă a suveranităţii sale', which 'a pus în pericol direct viaţa cetăţenilor'; 'Condamnă, totodată, războiul de agresiune al Federaţiei Ruse împotriva Ucrainei'. Ministry of Defence (preliminary, same source): a 'Geran'-type drone 'cu motor turboreactiv'. The MoD's own 30 Sep releases (army.md) place the flights 'în contextul atacurilor masive ale Federației Ruse asupra Ucrainei'. Colonița, 18 Sep: police found turbojet-drone debris; police chief Viorel Cernăuțeanu said 'Nu putem confirma în detalii despre obiectul care a fost' (Euronews.ro); no official attribution.

Latest. Ozerov denied Russian ownership ('Suntem sătui de acuzaţii care nu sunt însoţite de probe') and proposed a joint investigation; the MFA said Moldovan airspace had been violated eight times in the seven days to 1 Oct 2026 (Informat.ro).

Link to the war against Ukraine. The Ministry of Defence linked the 30 September flights to massive Russian attacks on Ukraine; the Colonița wreckage was assessed by Ukrainian military media as a jet-powered Geran-type drone of the kind Russia launches at Ukraine.