Moldova's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday, October 23, that a staff member of the Russian Embassy in Chisinau would be declared persona non grata after an explosive-laden Russian strike drone crashed on Moldovan territory, calling the incident a serious violation of the sovereignty and security of the Republic of Moldova and a direct threat to the safety of citizens. The ministry demanded that Moscow immediately halt cross-border aerial incursions.

Source: Moldova Foreign Ministry via Bytes Europe / Kyiv Post, Oct 24, 2026

President Maia Sandu said the drone was a Russian Geran attack drone that violated Moldovan airspace and fell near family homes and an energy facility. "Russia's war keeps putting Moldovan lives at risk. Today, a Russian Geran attack drone violated our airspace and crashed near residential buildings and an energy facility. We condemn this latest dangerous act. In response, we have declared a Russian embassy staff member persona non grata," Sandu wrote on X on October 23.

Source: President Maia Sandu on X, Oct 23, 2026

~100 metresdistance from a residential building where the drone crashed in Chistelnita village, Telenesti district — Moldova police via LIGA.net
Oct 23afternoon the drone was detected entering Moldovan airspace, then disappeared from radar — Moldova Ministry of Defense
0casualties reported in preliminary information — Moldova General Police Inspectorate

Moldova's General Police Inspectorate said a resident of Chistelnita village contacted police about the crashed drone on the afternoon of October 23. Police cordoned off the area and bomb disposal specialists were sent to inspect the object, and preliminary reports indicated no casualties. The Ministry of Defense said the drone violated the country's airspace during Russia's large-scale attack on Ukraine, was detected in the afternoon and later found in Telenesti district.

Source: Moldova General Police Inspectorate via LIGA.net / Bytes Europe, Oct 24, 2026

The expulsion coincides with wider border-security changes: Moldovan Interior Minister Daniela Misail-Nikitin said Chisinau has withdrawn its customs officers and border police from four joint border posts situated on Ukrainian territory and is negotiating with Kyiv to relocate joint inspections onto the Moldovan side, to reduce exposure to Russian strikes along the frontier, according to reporting relayed by Kyiv Post. Moldova is not a NATO member and is constitutionally neutral; Russian authorities had not publicly responded to the expulsion in the reports cited here.

Source: Moldova Foreign Ministry via Bytes Europe / Kyiv Post, Oct 24, 2026

What is solid

  • A Russian Geran drone crashed about 100 metres from a home in Chistelnita, Telenesti district, on Oct 23, with no casualties in preliminary reports — Moldova police and President Sandu
  • Moldova declared a Russian embassy staff member persona non grata in response — Moldova Foreign Ministry and President Sandu

What is only claimed

  • Ukraine's Air Force has said repeated Russian drone incursions into Moldovan airspace are planned actions by Russia — a Ukrainian claim reported by LIGA.net; Russia has not publicly responded in the reports cited and has not accepted that characterisation