Russia recalls Moldovan ambassador in diplomatic dispute over drone crash

Russia has expelled a member of the Moldovan diplomatic mission in a retaliatory move that follows Chisinau's decision to remove a Russian embassy employee. The escalation marks a significant strain in the bilateral relationship between the two neighboring countries.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday that it had summoned Lilian Darii, the Moldovan ambassador to Moscow. During the meeting, officials informed the ambassador that a staff member of the Moldovan embassy had been declared unacceptable. The ministry stated that this decision was made strictly on the basis of the principle of reciprocity.

In a formal statement, the ministry lodged a strong protest with the ambassador. It noted that the action was taken after Moldovan authorities declared an employee of the Russian embassy in Chisinau persona non grata on October 23. Moscow characterized Chisinau's move as another unfriendly step in their ongoing diplomatic interactions.

The Russian foreign ministry argued that Moldova's decision was based on a formal pretext. According to the statement, Moldova cited the alleged discovery of debris from an unmanned aerial vehicle carrying explosives on its territory. The ministry claimed that the true goal of this maneuver was to further undermine the centuries-long history of relations between Russia and Moldova.

The immediate trigger for the dispute was a drone incident that occurred last month. Moldovan President Maia Sandu stated that a Russian attack drone had violated the country's airspace. She described the aircraft as crashing near residential areas and an energy facility, which prompted the initial diplomatic response from Chisinau.

This incident is part of a broader pattern of tensions. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, drones have penetrated Moldovan territory on multiple occasions. These recurring events have contributed to a deterioration in ties between Moscow and various former Soviet states.

Relations have reached an all-time low, a situation compounded by the efforts of several former Soviet nations to join the European Union. Moldova's alignment with Western institutions has intensified the diplomatic friction with Russia, which views such moves as a shift in the regional balance of power.

The diplomatic standoff comes as Moldova seeks to reduce its reliance on Russian energy resources. On Sunday, the country officially launched a new power line that connects it to neighboring Romania and the broader European grid. This infrastructure project is a key step in diversifying Moldova's energy imports.

The new 400-kilovolt extra-high-voltage line runs from the city of Vulcanesti to Chisinau. Its operation allows Moldova to decrease its dependence on the Cuciurgan thermal power plant located in the Transnistria region, which has historically been linked to Russian energy supplies.

Other European-aligned states in the Black Sea region report similar experiences. Officials in these countries say they are facing renewed attacks allegedly carried out by Moscow. One notable recent event was a drone strike in October that sank a cargo ship off the coast of Romania.