Moldova closed the airspace for security purposes

Moldova temporarily closed its airspace on Tuesday. The decision was made for security reasons, the country’s Civil Aviation Administration reported, without giving details. The temporary measure was in effect until 14:47 local time.

Some sources write that the decision followed the detection of drones on the territory of Moldova. There are no official comments on this matter, the Moldovan service of Radio Liberty notes.

The President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, announced the day before, on February 13, that she had received documents from Ukrainian intelligence about Moscow’s planning of actions against her country. “The documents received from our Ukrainian partners indicate the locations and logistical aspects of the organization of these diversions,” Sandu said, urging fellow citizens to be as vigilant as possible.

Maya Sandu claimed that the Russian side’s plan, which Chisinau learned about, included the use of foreigners for violent actions. In this regard, Sandu mentioned “saboteurs with military training in civilian clothes” and found instructions for citizens of Serbia, Russia, Belarus, and Montenegro on how to infiltrate Moldova to carry out the tasks set before them. Russia wants to change the power in the Republic of Moldova and bring its protégés to the leadership in Chisinau, Maia Sandu emphasized.

In response, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Sandu’s statements were completely unfounded and unsubstantiated. The Russian agency simultaneously accused Ukraine of inciting tension and trying to drag Moldova “into a tough confrontation with Russia.”

Belgrade also rejected the possible participation of Serbian citizens in subversive actions in Moldova and invited Chisinau to urgently provide the leadership of Serbia with all available information on this matter. Prime Minister of Montenegro Dritan Abazovich said that he did not have any information on this account and expressed his readiness to contact the Moldovan government and, if necessary, conduct an additional investigation. Abazovich noted that Montenegro is a member of NATO and fully supports the EU’s sanctions policy against Russia.

• During his visit to Brussels on February 9, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, said that Ukrainian intelligence had discovered the Kremlin’s plans to destabilize the situation and seize power in Moldova. Zelensky noted that these plans are very similar to those that Moscow developed to seize Ukraine. At the same time, Zelensky said that he did not know whether Moscow ultimately ordered the Moldovan scenario to go ahead.