Moldova's Defense Ministry said at 17:37 monitoring systems detected an aerial object entering the country's airspace and moving toward the Kuchurgan–Tiraspol direction. The object later disappeared from radar near Talmaza, and an explosion occurred three kilometers from the village. The blast ignited dry grass in a field; no one was injured.
Ukraine's Air Force said Russia had launched a 'Banderol' drone-missile at Odesa, which changed course and headed toward Moldova. The Stefan Voda district, where the device fell, borders Ukraine's Odesa region.
This is the second time in a month that a Russian drone-missile has exploded on Moldovan territory. On August 9, a similar device exploded in a forest belt in the same district. Police then found debris that, according to preliminary data, resembled components of a guided missile. After that incident, Moldova's Foreign Ministry recalled its ambassador, Lilian Darii, from Moscow for consultations, calling it a serious violation of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu said some drones enter the country deliberately to test the authorities' response capability. According to her, expelling Russia's ambassador to Chisinau, Oleg Ozerov, or sending protest notes would not stop the flights. "The most important thing that can be done to stop these drones in the Republic of Moldova, in Ukraine, and everywhere is to help Ukraine and ensure that Ukraine wins this war," Sandu stressed.
According to Moldova's Defense Ministry as of late July, since the start of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, fragments of 28 missiles and drones have been found on Moldovan territory. In 12 cases, the drones were equipped with explosives.