Russian Geran Drone Crash in Moldova Halts Zelenskyy Flight as 17 Drones Fell There in August
Updated
Updated · DW (English) · Sep 13
Russian Geran Drone Crash in Moldova Halts Zelenskyy Flight as 17 Drones Fell There in August
3 articles · Updated · DW (English) · Sep 13
Summary
A Russian Geran drone that crossed Ukraine and Romania crashed near Riscani on Tuesday, forcing a delay to Volodymyr Zelenskyy's departure from Chisinau.
The incident exposed Moldova's weak air defenses: controllers tracked the drone, but the country lacked the capacity to shoot it down beyond limited protection from a small number of Polish Piorun missiles.
Around three dozen drone incidents have hit Moldova and Romania since early August, and Moldova alone recorded 17 crashes in August—matching all of 2025—while Romania has begun shooting down some drones after a July policy shift.
A September 8 drone strike on the Starokozache crossing near Moldova killed 2 people and wounded 2, including a Moldovan citizen, sharpening warnings from Chisinau that Russian attacks are no longer a distant threat.
Moldovan and Romanian analysts say the drone's unusual route suggests a deliberate probe, while the Institute for the Study of War said the fast Geran incursions benefit Moscow by testing Moldovan and NATO responses.