Russian Geran drone crashes near homes in Moldova; Chișinău expels a Russian embassy staff member

On 23 October 2026 Moldova's Defence Ministry said its Air Operations Center detected an unauthorised drone flight at 13:59, coming from the direction of Ukraine's Vinnytsia region; the drone disappeared from monitoring near Pepeni at 14:10, briefly reappeared and vanished near Meșeni. Police found the crashed Geran drone near the village of Chiștelnița in Telenești district, less than 100 metres from a home, cordoned off the area and sent explosives specialists. No casualties were reported.

Established by. President Maia Sandu, 23 Oct 2026, said the drone fell near family homes and an energy facility: 'Russia's war keeps putting Moldovan lives at risk'; 'we have declared a Russian embassy staff member persona non grata' (as reported by Euromaidan Press). The Defence Ministry reported the detection and flight path.

Latest. A Russian embassy staff member was declared persona non grata on 23 October 2026; the person was not named. No Russian response had been reported as of that date.

Link to the war against Ukraine. The drone entered Moldova from the direction of Ukraine's Vinnytsia region during Russian drone attacks on Ukraine.