Drone incursions and border tension
Moldova registered 65 drone incursions this year, adding to the more than 100 incursions recorded since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Border police chief Ruslan Galusca told BIRN that Russia’s war in Ukraine has confronted Moldova with "unprecedented" threats, including airspace violations and cyber attacks. On October 5, a Russian drone strike near the Palanca-Maiaki-Udobnoe crossing wounded one of Galusca’s officers. Russia targets specific border crossings between Ukraine and Moldova, claiming these sites resupply the Ukrainian military despite the repeated and firm denials from Moldovan officials regarding any such unauthorized military activity. I believe the pattern of strikes near Palanca-Maiaki-Udobnoe shows a clear intent to pressure Moldovan border security. "The risk is real," Galusca said.
Defenses against aerial threats
Moldova is upgrading its defenses with surveillance systems, drones, and anti-drone technology to counter these incursions. These tools address the aerial threats that have caused injuries to Moldovan personnel and violated national airspace.
| Threat Metric | Total Since Feb 2022 | Current Year Total |
|---|---|---|
| Drone Incursions | More than 100 | 65 |
I find the current situation regarding these drone strikes particularly grim. The frequency of incursions has increased significantly during this calendar year. The recent wounding of a police officer near the Palanca-Maiaki-Udobnoe crossing demonstrates the immediate physical danger Moldovan border guards face when patrolling these sensitive areas. Moldova must deploy these new surveillance systems and anti-drone technologies effectively to mitigate the risks described by Galusca. The country needs these tools. I view the recent surge in drone activity as a direct consequence of the ongoing conflict in the neighboring country. The presence of Russian drones near the Palanca-Maiaki-Udobnoe crossing is a significant threat to the safety of Moldovan border personnel who are currently on duty. I think the situation is volatile. I believe the new technology is necessary to stop these incursions. I am concerned that the current security upgrades might not be enough to stop the increasing frequency of these attacks. I find the lack of immediate response to these incursions unacceptable. I think the drone threat is becoming a permanent problem for the border police.
