On March 17, at approximately 9:55 AM local time, fragments of a drone were found by the Moldovan Border Police near the village of Tudora, situated about 500 meters from the Ukrainian border. The Moldovan government reported the incident via its Telegram channel.
Specialists from the police’s explosives unit were dispatched to the scene to assess the situation and neutralize the drone’s combat module. Local residents were evacuated as a precaution.
Shortly thereafter, bomb disposal experts and police confirmed that the drone was active and contained an explosive charge. They conducted a controlled detonation of the drone.
While the origin of the drone was not specified, images released suggest it resembled a Russian-modified Shahed drone.
Earlier that morning, Oleg Kiper, head of the Odesa Regional Administration, reported on a significant Russian strike in the region. He noted that the attack resulted in damage to energy, industrial, and port infrastructure, as well as to various facilities and equipment. Fires broke out in the affected areas, but no injuries were reported.
Moldovan authorities discovered drone fragments near the Ukrainian border, prompting evacuations and a controlled detonation. Concurrently, a Russian strike in Odesa caused infrastructure damage but no casualties.