Moldova’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Russian Ambassador-designate Oleg Ozerov on Monday following the crash of an explosive-laden drone near the village of Copanca in the Căușeni district.
After the meeting, the ministry said it had handed Ozerov a formal note of protest over what it described as the illegal violation of Moldova’s airspace during the night of July 13.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Ambassador-designate of the Russian Federation to Chișinău in connection with the incident of July 13, when Moldova’s airspace was illegally crossed by a drone carrying an explosive payload. The ambassador was presented with a note of protest regarding this serious violation of national sovereignty and the risks posed to the security of our citizens,” the ministry said.
The drone, identified by Moldovan authorities as a Geran-2, crashed near Copanca overnight from Sunday to Monday. The device, weighing approximately 40 kilograms and carrying explosives, was safely detonated by specialists from the National Army.
Speaking to reporters after leaving the ministry, Ozerov said he had asked Moldovan authorities to provide evidence that the drone was Russian.
He also questioned the official account of the incident, arguing that it was unclear why the crash had not left a crater and why local residents had reportedly not heard anything. Ozerov further claimed that no drone fragments had been presented publicly and made a sarcastic remark that he did not see any debris “on the steps,” referring to previous occasions when alleged drone fragments were displayed after he had been summoned.
The Russian ambassador-designate did not make any comments to the media before entering the Foreign Ministry.