Russian Drone Slams Into Moldovan House; Romanian F-16s Scrambled After Airspace Breach

Six Russian drones violated Moldovan airspace during Moscow’s massive overnight attack on Tuesday against Ukraine, with one crashing into a residential home, according to the Moldovan Defense Ministry.

According to the ministry, the first drone was detected over the Vinogradovka-Vulcănești area before moving toward the Romanian border at an altitude of roughly 1,500 meters (5,000 feet).

Shortly afterward, surveillance systems tracked five additional drones crossing the airspace over Dondușeni, Orhei, Bender, Vadul-lui-Vodă and Florești. 

One of them crashed onto the roof of a house in the village of Nizhni Cucurești. Social media users have shared a photo that appears to show a Russian drone sprayed with the pro-Kremlin “Z” symbol on a rooftop in Moldova.

Moldovan police said a village was evacuated after drone fragments fell onto a house.

“The police technical explosives unit is on its way to the scene. People have been evacuated and the area cordoned off,” the police said.

Moldova’s foreign ministry said it would summon the Russian ambassador on Wednesday over what it described as a “serious violation” of the country’s airspace.

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Ukraine’s military intelligence agency said its Prymary (“Ghosts”) special unit carried out a series of strikes against Russian logistics networks in April and May, disrupting supply routes and slowing the movement of reserves, more evidence of Ukraine implementing its grand strategy.

“We urge citizens to report any foreign objects they see and not to touch anything that has fallen to the ground, but to notify the authorities,” the Moldovan defense ministry said.

Earlier, Ukraine’s Air Force reported that at least one Russian drone may also have entered Romanian territory during the same overnight strike.

Romania’s defense ministry later confirmed the violation. According to the ministry, Romanian radars detected an incoming object near Tulcea County early on Nov. 25, prompting it to scramble two German Eurofighter Typhoon jets stationed at a Romanian airbase.

The object reportedly crossed into Romanian airspace on a trajectory from Vylkove, Ukraine, toward the Kilia Veche area. At 7:11 a.m., a Eurofighter reported radar contact with a target over Ukrainian territory, outside Romanian airspace.

At 7:37 a.m., Romania scrambled two F-16 jets, and at 7:48 a.m., authorities issued an emergency alert for Galați County.

At 7:50 a.m., radar systems detected a second airspace violation in the same region, and Romanian F-16s established radar contact.

Romanian Defense Minister Ionuț Moșteanu told reporters that authorities also discovered a crashed drone in Vaslui, near the Moldovan border.

“Either they lost control of it or it ran out of fuel since it had been flying for some time... It is a drone that, according to initial assessments, did not carry any explosive payload,” he said.

During a visit to Romania, US General Chris Donahue said NATO members were strengthening their ability to intercept drones.

“We’re in the final stages... to make sure that this capability can be employed as quickly as possible,” he told reporters at the Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base near the Black Sea.

Last week, Romania scrambled several fighter jets in response to a drone incursion, while Moldova also summoned the Russian ambassador over a similar incident.

President Volodymyr Zelensky reacted to the overnight attack, saying that four Russian drones crossed into Moldova and Romania, with exact flight paths documented.

“That is why all partners must remember that every day we need to save lives. Weapons and air defense are important, as is continued sanctions pressure on the aggressor. There can be no pauses in assistance,” he wrote.

“The key now is for all partners to move toward diplomacy together. Pressure on Russia must work,” Zelensky added.

Early Tuesday, Russian forces launched a massive overnight missile-and-drone attack on Kyiv, killing at least 7 people, injuring 20, and causing widespread destruction across multiple districts of the capital.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy said Russia struck multiple energy sites, prompting urgent assessments and repairs. 

Attacks continued in other regions as explosions and power outages were reported in Odesa, Sumy, and Kharkiv, among other regions. In the Odesa region, six people were injured, including two children, after Russian strikes set energy and port infrastructure on fire. 

The Air Force reported that from 6 p.m. Monday to Tuesday morning, Russia launched 486 air attack weapons – including 22 missiles and 464 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Air defenses shot down or suppressed 452 targets by 10 a.m., including 438 UAVs, a Kinzhal hypersonic missile, 5 Iskander-K missiles, 5 Kalibrs, and 3 Iskander-M missiles. Missile impacts and UAV hits were recorded at 15 locations, with debris falling at 12 more.

Zelensky expressed condolences and condemned the strikes, noting severe damage in the Odesa region. “There were strikes on ports, food facilities, and infrastructure – no military sense,” he wrote, adding that the Dnipro, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Cherkasy regions were also hit.