Moldova Shuts Airspace After Russian Drones Violate Territory Again
Moldova’s airspace closure on the night of November 28-29, 2025, highlighted the growing risks facing regional aviation as Russia’s air campaign against Ukraine continues to violate neighboring territories. The Ministry of Defense confirmed that two Gerbera-type drones triggered an emergency shutdown from 22:43 to 23:53 after crossing Moldovan airspace along the Stanislavka-Vărăncău axis en route to Ukraine.
The incident resulted in immediate flight diversions, with two inbound aircraft redirected to Romania and one outbound flight held at Chisinau International Airport. The northern sector remained restricted until 23:32, when both drones were confirmed to have exited national territory. No debris or casualties were reported on Moldovan soil.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu condemned the breach on social media, stating: “On their way to kill civilians, Russian drones again violated Moldovan airspace, forcing its temporary closure. We condemn these attacks and stand with Ukraine.”
The Gerbera drone, originally developed as a radar-spoofing decoy to saturate air defenses, has evolved into a potential threat. Recent recoveries revealed some variants carry explosive payloads, amplifying concerns about civilian infrastructure vulnerability.
This marks Moldova’s third airspace violation in nine days, prompting repeated summons of Russia’s ambassador to present evidence and lodge formal protests. Moscow has consistently denied the allegations and accused Moldova of anti-Russian bias.
The incident reflects a broader regional crisis. On November 25, Romanian and German fighters scrambled after a drone penetrated over 100 kilometers into Romanian airspace—the deepest incursion since the war began. Polish and Romanian jets have also responded to previous incidents involving debris and drones near NATO airspace.
For Moldova, a non-aligned nation, these violations create unique pressures. Unlike NATO members, Moldova lacks collective defense provisions, complicating its response options. However, intensifying incidents underscore the need for enhanced regional coordination, improved air-defense capabilities, and international diplomatic pressure to contain the conflict’s spillover effects on civilian aviation and regional stability.
Source ID: SRCE-2025-1764514846236-1023