On Sunday, Moldova conducted “controlled detonations” of the rocket debris found in Larga village, Briceni district at the northern border with Ukraine.
“Citizens in the area are out of any danger, and the risks have been removed,” the Moldovan Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI) said in a statement, adding that specialised teams are “examining the field within 1.5 kilometres to ensure there are no other objects or remnants of the missile.”
Authorities in #Moldova said Sunday that specialist teams have carried out “controlled detonations” of explosives that were discovered in parts of rocket debris that border officials found in a northern village near the country’s border with Ukraine.https://t.co/s926JmKi98
— Stephen McGrath (@McGrathWriter) January 15, 2023
The MAI and the Ministry of Defense carried out the explosion after securing the perimeter and enhancing border security around the area.
“All the evidence accumulated as part of the on-site investigation will be transferred, as agreed, to the specialised prosecutors,” the MAI revealed.
THE INCIDENT
On Saturday, the Moldovan border police patrol discovered rocket debris in Larga village at its northern border, saying that “the warhead of the missile was fueled with approximately 80 kilograms of explosive material.”
Though the MAI did not disclose details, it did say that the debris comprised “remains of the rocket from Russia’s air strikes on Ukraine.” It further stated that the Ukrainian authorities were notified.
Russia’s brutal war against 🇺🇦directly impacts Moldova again. 🇲🇩border police found rocket fragments near Larga village in northern 🇲🇩. We strongly condemn today’s intensified attacks of Russia & stand with those who lost loved ones in Dnipro & across 🇺🇦. Peace must prevail. pic.twitter.com/JhlYNExoiG
— Maia Sandu (@sandumaiamd) January 14, 2023
REACTIONS
Moldovan President Maia Sandu condemned the incident, saying, “Russia’s brutal war against [Ukraine] directly impacts Moldova again.”
Similarly, PM Natalia Gavrilița expressed her “indignation for the lack of respect for the sovereignty of the Republic of Moldova, its airspace being flown over again today.”
NOT THE FIRST TIME
This is not the first such incident to occur in Moldova since the Ukraine war began in February last year. In October, a Russian missile exploded in the Naslavcea village and damaged many houses. Chișinău lodged a diplomatic protest with Russian Ambassador Oleg Vasnetsov, leading to an employee of the diplomatic mission getting expelled from the country.
Moreover, three Russian cruise missiles launched from the Black Sea over Ukraine violated Moldova’s airspace in October. However, Russia refused to accept that rockets aimed at Ukraine would threaten Moldova.
Additionally, last month, another rocket’s remains were found at an orchard near the town of Briceni.
#Moldova once again expresses its unwavering support for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of #Ukraine.
— Daniel Vodă 🇲🇩 (@Daniel_Voda) January 15, 2023
DNIPRO ATTACK
Russia launched its missile attack on Dnipro on Saturday, striking an apartment complex that killed 30 people and leaving 75 more injured.
Following the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced additional sanctions against nearly 200 Russians and “other persons who help terror,” vowing to hold everyone accountable.
Another appalling barrage of Russian missiles targeting critical infrastructure & killing civilians in Ukraine.
— Nicu Popescu (@nicupopescu) January 14, 2023
Missile debris has been found in northern Moldova after these latest air strikes on Ukraine.
We condemn Russia’s continued, ruthless aggression. We stand w/ Ukraine.
MISSILE DEBRIS FOUND IN POLAND AND BELARUS
In November, Poland threatened to invoke North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) Article 4 after a missile strike at a grain silo in Przewodów, which is six kilometres from the Ukraine border, killed two farm workers.
Last month, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry summoned Ukrainian Ambassador Igor Kizim after the Belarusian Air Defence Forces shot down a stray S-300 anti-aircraft missile in the Gorbakha village, Brest region.