The drone crashed in Orhei a few hours after President Maia Sandu stated in an interview that the Republic of Moldova will develop its own capabilities for producing interceptor drones.
The flying device was detected by the surveillance systems of the National Army of Moldova crossing the border from the direction of the Mihailovca-Lopatna locality.
Authorities reported that the explosion did not result in any casualties.
Police claim that drone fragments were found on an agricultural field near the Lopatna locality. These are currently being examined by experts to determine the origin of the flying device and the circumstances of the incident.
The Chisinau Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the incident. "The unauthorized overflight of any flying object in the airspace of the Republic of Moldova or its fall on national territory constitutes a threat to national security and represents a violation of the state's sovereignty and territorial integrity. This incident once again highlights the risks and consequences generated for regional security and neighboring states by the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine," the MFA's reaction states.
The institution further specifies that "faced with these challenges, the Republic of Moldova will continue to strengthen its defense and resilience capacities, investing in peace, security, and the protection of its citizens to guarantee the country's safety and that of its population."
The Chisinau Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in discussions with the authorities in Ukraine regarding the drone that exploded in Orhei. According to initial data, it could be of Ukrainian origin. "Regardless of the drone's origin, the responsibility for any drone that reaches the territory of the Republic of Moldova lies with Russia, which has initiated an illegal war in the neighboring country. We stand in solidarity with the Ukrainians who fight and lose their lives for the freedom of their country, but also for peace in the European continent, including peace in the Republic of Moldova," mentions the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Andrii Sîbiha, claims in a post that the drone that fell on the territory of the Republic of Moldova is Russian.
Moldova could produce interceptor drones
The drone crashed in Orhei a few hours after President Maia Sandu stated in an interview that the Republic of Moldova will develop its own capabilities for producing interceptor drones to disrupt and shoot down aircraft violating national airspace.
To this end, the Government is already preparing legislative changes to allow for public-private partnerships and foreign investments in the defense industry.
"We need to start producing drones that intercept and shoot down flying devices that threaten our security. I have asked the Government, especially in the context of recent events, to prepare the legislation changes. On the one hand, the state must produce these drones and anti-drones, and on the other hand, we must allow the private sector as well. Our state lacks the technologies, we don't have experts because we haven't trained such experts.
But there are foreign investors who have these technologies, it's just that the law does not currently allow these public-private partnerships between the state and investors or even foreign investments. We will change the law and try to attract investments, primarily to establish these public-private partnerships, but maybe we can also attract some foreign investments. Because we need these interceptor drones that combat the drones that increasingly enter our country's territory and create real dangers," stated the President of the Republic of Moldova.
According to her, Moldova could benefit from Ukraine's experience, which has built one of the most advanced drone industries amid the war triggered by Russia.
In April 2026, media outlets from both sides of the Prut River reported about an engineer from the Republic of Moldova and another from Romania who produce small-sized interceptor drones capable of destroying Shahed drones.
They already deliver surveillance or transport drones to Ukraine and the Middle East and plan to start production in Romania this summer, with a capacity of 2000-3000 drones per month.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Russia has violated the airspace of the Republic of Moldova dozens of times. Several flying devices have crashed on the country's territory.
The summoning of the unaccredited Russian Ambassador, Oleg Ozerov, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding these incidents has become a diplomatic routine. Chisinau has recently acquired airspace monitoring radars and is set to purchase, with the EU's assistance, an anti-aircraft defense system. However, the process is delayed due to the greater needs of Ukraine.