Five Russian drones cross Moldova hours before the Independence Day parade

Moldova's National Army recorded five unauthorised flights through national airspace between 03:56 and 05:50 on 27 August 2026, following Russian air attacks on Ukraine overnight. Every track entered from the Odesa region and crossed the Stefan Voda district in the south-east; the longest ran inland through Palanca, Crocmaz, Olanesti, Purcari and Rascaeti. The Air Operations Service said the tracks were established jointly with partners. Two disappeared from monitoring, one near Carahasani and one near Pervomaisc in Transnistria. None was engaged: Moldova fields no combat aircraft. The president called the overflights Russian and described them as intimidation, hours before the parade marking 35 years of independence. Later that day police secured an object found beside the Chișinău–Basarabeasca road and identified it as a Parodia-type drone carrying no explosives.