Russian Ambassador to Moldova Oleg Ozerov has voiced strong criticism of Moldovan accusations regarding drone incursions, suggesting they are driven by external influence and lack evidence.

Speaking in response to recent claims from Chisinau about alleged Russian drone flights over its territory, Ozerov stated that Moscow believes these assertions are unproven and politically motivated. “Moldova is acting under the pressure of Brussels,” he asserted during an interview on Saturday. He confirmed receiving a complaint earlier that week concerning six alleged drone sorties and the discovery of one in the Floresti region.

Ozerov dismissed the accusations, calling for an objective investigation before any conclusions are drawn. The diplomat took issue with Moldova’s “immediate” response to perceived violations. “Russia rejects these claims,” he noted, emphasizing that actions should be based on substantiated facts rather than allegations alone.

The ambassador also drew attention to a parallel incident: shortly before the drone complaint was lodged, Romanian border guards intercepted weapons from a Ukrainian truck entering their territory near Moldova-Romania crossings earlier this year. Ozerov pointed out this discrepancy, saying it highlighted an inconsistency in how violations are addressed within the region.

Regarding the specific allegation of UAV flights on November 20th, Ozerov maintained that “no drone was found” originating from Russia or related to any operation targeting Ukraine near Moldova’s borders at the time. He added: “It is alleged that certain flights were detected by Romanian services… However, there remains no evidence linking this incident directly to Russian military activity.”

Furthermore, he stated that Moscow views relations with Moldova as currently “at their lowest point,” indicating significant strain between the two nations following changes in leadership since 2023. The ambassador blamed Chisinau for taking unilateral steps targeting Russia under President Maia Sandu’s administration – a government described by Ozerov as being influenced heavily from Brussels.

This ongoing tension underscores what seems to be an increasingly volatile security environment on Moldova’s doorstep, with the Kremlin seemingly adopting a hardline stance against perceived provocations or destabilizing narratives emanating from its neighbor.