Russian strike drones hit the Starokozache international border crossing with Moldova in the Odesa region early Wednesday, killing two civilians and injuring three, Ukrainian officials said.
The drones struck the crossing’s infrastructure and the surrounding area, sparking fires, Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service reported. The crossing was temporarily closed, and the Moldovan side was informed.
Sixteen people were evacuated from the area, Odesa region Governor Oleh Kiper said. Emergency crews were working at the scene.
President Volodymyr Zelensky also confirmed the strike, saying the Starokozache crossing had been hit and its operations suspended.
“Unfortunately, two people died, three more were injured, 16 were evacuated by rescuers. My condolences to the relatives and friends of the deceased,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
He said Russia’s deadly strikes had not received a sufficient response from the international community.
“But a response is needed: Moscow should not enter the winter with the understanding that it will get away with missile and drone terror just like that,” Zelensky said.
“The aggression must be stopped here and now so that it does not spread further. And it is important that sanctions and support for Ukraine work effectively for this,” he added.
The Moldovan Foreign Ministry later reported that a Moldovan citizen was among those injured in the Russian strike on the Starokozache checkpoint.
Moldovan broadcaster TV8 reported that the citizen was wounded during the drone attack. The two people killed in the strike were Ukrainian citizens, while there is currently no confirmed information about any other injured Moldovan citizens.
According to the Moldovan Foreign Ministry, the injured citizen refused hospitalization and continued his journey by car to Chisinau.
Information about Moldovan vehicles that were allegedly damaged or destroyed in the attack is still being verified. Earlier, a photo of a damaged bus appeared online, allegedly showing the name of a Moldovan company.
“We are in contact with the Ukrainian authorities and will provide confirmed data,” the Moldovan Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
After 3 p.m., the passage of people and vehicles through the Starokozache international automobile checkpoint was restored, Ukraine’s Southern Regional Department of the State Border Guard Service reported on Facebook.
Border guards, the State Emergency Service, the National Police, the Customs Service and the Service for the Restoration and Development of Infrastructure in the Odesa region jointly worked to clear the aftermath of the attack and quickly restore the checkpoint.
The attack is the latest in a series of Russian strikes on border infrastructure in the Odesa region.
On Sept. 1, Russian forces attacked the Orlivka border crossing with Romania, temporarily suspending its operations.
On Aug. 25, the Vinohradivka-Vulcanesti crossing on the Ukrainian-Moldovan border was temporarily closed after a Russian drone damaged its infrastructure.
Russian drones also struck a border crossing in the Odesa region during a massive overnight attack on Aug. 20.
The following morning, Russian forces targeted the Bolhrad and Izmail districts, damaging infrastructure at the Tabaki checkpoint on the border with Moldova and temporarily suspending its operations.