Moldova: drone flight via Plopi and Bănești

What happened

On 31 October 2026 at 16:24 local time, the defence ministry detected an unauthorised drone flight from the direction of Semionovka in Ukraine’s Odesa region towards Plopi, Rîbnița district, in the Transnistrian segment. It was subsequently observed near Bănești. Northern airspace was restricted at 16:46 and central airspace at 16:52. Radar contact was lost near Țibirica at 16:54. A later release confirmed that the drone had left national airspace; restrictions were lifted at 17:14. Loss of radar contact is not evidence of a crash. Model and operator remain unknown. The ministry described the context of Russian attacks on Ukraine without identifying this drone’s operator. This is the first of two separately described Moldovan flights that day. Exact coordinates are undetermined; the entry has no map point.

Responsibility and limits of the evidence

unresolved

The case was looked at and not settled, or the findings are disputed or have been rejected.

Impact

killed

not established

injured

not established

damage

not established

Sources

1. Informează! Două survolări neautorizate, 31 octombrie 2026

   Ministerul Apărării al Republicii Moldova / 2026-10-31 / primary source

   supports: the record, the date, the location, that it happened, the disruption