Russian drones struck an international border crossing between Ukraine and Moldova in the southern Odesa region, adding to growing concerns that the war is creating increasing security risks for countries bordering Ukraine.
Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service said infrastructure at the Tabaky border crossing was damaged during an overnight Russian drone attack on August 21. Operations at the checkpoint were temporarily suspended following the strike.
The incident followed another Russian attack a day earlier in southern Odesa, when drones targeted an area near the Ukrainian-Moldovan border. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that a border crossing had been targeted as part of a wider Russian missile and drone assault across Ukraine.
The attacks have attracted particular attention because of their proximity to Moldova. During the August 20 assault, Moldovan authorities reported that a suspected Russian Shahed-type drone entered Moldovan airspace before returning toward Ukraine. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said drone activity also affected the airspace of Moldova and Romania, arguing that the incidents demonstrate how the security consequences of the war are extending beyond Ukraine’s borders.
Moldova has faced several similar incidents. Earlier this week, its Foreign Ministry condemned an airspace violation after an unidentified aerial object exploded near Talmaza, close to the Ukrainian border. No casualties were reported, but Moldovan authorities described the incident as a serious violation of the country’s sovereignty and a threat to public safety.
The latest strike comes amid a broader escalation of Russian aerial operations against Ukraine, including attacks on energy, transport and civilian infrastructure. Odesa is particularly sensitive because of its Black Sea ports and its borders with Moldova and NATO member Romania.
Repeated drone incidents near these borders are increasing pressure on neighboring European states to strengthen air surveillance and protection of critical infrastructure. Romania has also faced drone-related security incidents connected to the conflict, highlighting the growing challenge of preventing the Russia–Ukraine war from creating wider security risks across Eastern Europe.
While the fighting remains concentrated inside Ukraine, the latest attack on the Moldova border crossing underscores how drones and long-range weapons are increasingly testing the security of the wider region.
