UAV event in Mihăileni Vechi area, Moldova, Republic of on Tue 8th September 2026

The air surveillance systems of the National Army detected, today, at 16:20, the unauthorized entry into the airspace of the Republic of Moldova of an unmanned aerial vehicle, coming from the direction of Ukraine.

According to preliminary data, the aircraft, a Shahed type, entered the national airspace in the direction of the village of Slavianorebca, Ukraine, moving towards Bender, through the Transnistrian sector of the Republic of Moldova.

The drone was monitored by the air surveillance systems of the National Army on the territory of the country. At 16:32, it was moving in the direction of the municipality of Chisinau, and at 16:36 it was located in the area of ​​the village of Bălănești, continuing its movement towards Cetireni, Ungheni district.

At 16:37, the drone left the airspace of the Republic of Moldova near the village of Zagarancea, Ungheni district, continuing its movement in the direction of Golăiești, Iași county, Romania.

In the context of ensuring flight safety, at 16:30, the airspace in the central area of ​​the country was temporarily restricted. Later, after the aircraft left the territory of the Republic of Moldova, the airspace was reopened.

National authorities, together with partners, continue to monitor the airspace for the safety of the population.

UPDATE: The air operations service informs that they have identified the same drone that returned to the airspace of the Republic of Moldova from the direction of Iași, Romania. Later, it disappeared from the radar in the area of ​​the village of Cobani, Glodeni district and reappeared in the vicinity of the city of Drochia. At 17:14, the flying object disappeared in the area of ​​the village of Sturzovca, Bălți. At 17:39, the airspace in the Centru area was reopened.

Later, at 17:26, the "North" dispatcher of SNUPAU "112" received information that, in the countryside of the locality of Mihăileni Vechi, a small flying device similar to a drone had fallen, after which the dry vegetation caught fire. No casualties were reported.

The USP Rîșcani guard and police officers intervened at the scene.