On March 12, 2025, Moldovan authorities responded swiftly to an unusual incident in Pepeni, a village located approximately 100 kilometers north of Chișinău, after a resident innocently brought home a drone that they believed to be a toy. In light of potential security concerns, police dispatched bomb disposal experts to the area to assess the situation.
The drone had been discovered four days prior to the police arrival, but by the time of the investigation, it had already been disassembled. The mayor of Pepeni, Oleg Cernei, alerted law enforcement after identifying the individual who had brought the drone into the village. In a video shared by the local government on social media, Cernei explained,
“A citizen thought it was a toy…and brought it into the locality of Pepeni.”
Upon examining the drone, police confirmed that it did not contain any explosives and posed no immediate threat to the community. Nonetheless, they advised citizens against touching or attempting to transport fallen drones or similar objects.
Context of the incident
Authorities did not disclose the origin of the drone, which was identified as a Gerbera-type typically employed for reconnaissance or improvised attacks. Such drones have been previously utilized by Russian forces in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of airspace violations and drone sightings in Moldova since the escalation of the war in Ukraine in 2022. Just last week, Moldovan airspace experienced multiple breaches by unmanned aerial vehicles amid Russian assaults on Ukrainian territories. Earlier in February, two drones detonated over Moldova following an attack on a Ukrainian port.
Increased vigilance across Europe
The current situation has heightened awareness and concern across Europe, particularly following a surge in drone incursions into NATO airspace in September. European leaders have convened to discuss the implementation of a “drone wall” to enhance detection, tracking, and interception of unauthorized drone activities along their borders.
Furthermore, in November, NATO military officials announced the deployment of a new US anti-drone system to bolster defenses along the alliance’s eastern front. In response to recent airspace violations, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte introduced the Eastern Sentry programme, aimed at preventing further Russian intrusions.
Despite these developments, the Kremlin has dismissed claims linking Russia to the unidentified drone flights over Europe, branding them as “unfounded.”