On 3 October, a series of explosions rocked Moldova amidst a massive Russian attack on Ukraine. The country’s Ministry of Defence confirmed the presence of several drones in Moldovan airspace, whilst the police reported drone debris in the districts of Ceușani, Ștefan Vodă, Anenii Noi and Hîncești. Near the village of Krokmaz, one of the drones exploded in a vineyard, causing a fire and damaging the windows of a farm building. According to preliminary reports, there were no casualties.
- Moldova has confirmed that several drones have flown through its airspace.
- Debris from drones was found near Keushan, Dubovka, Hîncești and in other areas.
- Near Krokmaz, a drone exploded in a vineyard and caused a fire.
- The windows in the agricultural brigade’s building were smashed.
Drones were spotted in several areas at once
The Moldovan Ministry of Defence reported that on the morning of 3 October, the national monitoring system detected several unmanned aerial vehicles near Anenii Noi, Ștefan Voda, Tudori and Keușan. The ministry later clarified that explosions had also been heard near Crocmaz, Delacau, Puchecheni, Bozieni, Hincesti, Dubovka and Konstantinovka.
The Air Service continued to monitor the situation alongside other government agencies and partners. Police and National Army units were dispatched to the crash sites.
Officially, the origin of all the devices detected had not been established at the time of the initial reports. Therefore, the claim that they all came from the Odesa region of Ukraine has not yet been confirmed by the Moldovan authorities. At the same time, the incidents occurred during a large-scale Russian air strike on Ukraine.
A drone exploded in a vineyard near Krokmaz
One of the most serious incidents took place near the village Krokmaz, Štefan-Vodsky District. According to the police, the explosion occurred in a vineyard near an agricultural co-operative.
Following the explosion, the vegetation caught fire, and the blast wave damaged the windows of the brigade’s building. No fatalities or injuries have been reported. Law enforcement officers and bomb disposal experts are examining the scene.
Krokmaz is situated near the Ukrainian-Moldovan border. Debris from aircraft has been found in this area before — notably following the incident in September 2026.
Eyewitnesses saw thick smoke in Keushany
About. 07:50 The Keushan police received a report of an explosion on the outskirts of the town. Eyewitnesses reported thick smoke, and upon arrival, the police found the wreckage of a drone at the scene
Debris from drones was also found nearby Dubovky and Hîncești. Another impact site was identified in the Aneniya-Noysky District between the settlements of Delacue and Puchechen.
It is therefore not a matter of a single isolated incident, but of several incidents in different parts of the country. The police have not yet disclosed the exact number of drones that have crashed or exploded on Moldovan territory.
The authorities have urged people not to approach the wreckage
The Moldovan police are asking residents not to touch any debris they find and not to attempt to move it themselves. The areas where the explosions occurred are being inspected by specialists. If members of the public come across any unknown objects or fragments of drones, the authorities urge them to move to a safe distance and immediately call the following number: 112.
Once the investigations have been completed, the Moldovan authorities are to determine the types of aircraft, their origin and the exact circumstances under which they entered the country’s airspace.
