Maia Sandu warns that Russian drones have violated Moldova’s airspace 39 times this year: “Today, the risks are real”

The Republic of Moldova has reported 39 violations of its airspace since the beginning of 2026, more than twice as many as during the entire year of 2025, when 17 incidents were recorded. President Maia Sandu warns that Russian drones pose a regional threat and calls for the accelerated modernization of defense systems.

At a press conference held on Monday, Maia Sandu stated that drones have come to pose a risk also to Romania, Poland, and the Baltic states. In August, Romania had reported 25 unauthorized entries by drones into its airspace since the beginning of the year, with three aircraft being shot down.

The President of the Republic of Moldova said that it cannot be established with certainty whether each incident is accidental or part of an intimidation operation. However, she emphasized that, regardless of the reason, the violations endanger the population and infrastructure.

Chișinău is investing in the detection and neutralization of drones. Maia Sandu explained that defense must be built on multiple levels, because the aircraft fly at different altitudes and can quickly modify their characteristics to evade defensive systems.