Moldova’s Border Police clarified that the flying object spotted in northern Moldova, which Ukrainian Telegram channels initially described as a possible drone, was in fact a hot air balloon.
Authorities said that at 3:45 p.m., Ukrainian officials informed their Moldovan counterparts about a flying object observed over the northern part of the country, moving along the route of the localities Barnova, Donduseni, Grinauți, and Bratuseni.
“At 4:10 p.m., the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reported that the object had disappeared from radar in the area of Bratuseni. Later, the Air Operations Service of the Ministry of Defense informed the Border Police that they had identified the object as a hot air balloon,” the Border Police said.
Authorities emphasized that they recorded no risks or threats to citizens anywhere in the Republic of Moldova, including the border area, and confirmed that they continue to monitor the situation.