The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Moldova condemned Russiaʼs early morning missile attack on Ukraineʼs energy infrastructure.
The statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Russiaʼs attack is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. The Ministry notes that the attacks on Ukraineʼs energy infrastructure cause enormous economic and social damage to the whole of Europe, in particular to the citizens of Moldova, who are "feeling the consequences of the war in their neighborhood."
As NordNews reports, after a Russian rocket fell in the border village of Naslavcha, the Moldovan National Party demanded the expulsion of Russian Ambassador Oleh Vasnetsov.
"After the flight of two Russian missiles over the airspace of the Republic of Moldova [on October 10], the Russian ambassador in Chisinau Oleh Vasnetsov was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for an explanation. In a sarcastic, undiplomatic way, the Russian ambassador asked the Moldovan side for clear evidence that Russian missiles crossed the airspace of the Republic of Moldova. Today we have proof — in the village of Naslavcha," the party stated.
Reaction of Ukraine
The spokesman of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Yurii Hnat stated on the air of the telethon that the fragments of the downed Russian missile could indeed have fallen on the territory of Moldova, but he noted that it was shot down only when it was flying over the territory of Ukraine.
He said that Russia is launching missiles through Moldovan airspace, which is a crime.
"This is not the first time that they are hitting Ukraine with missiles through Moldova, particularly in the west and southwest. It is not the first time that we have recorded the constant appearance of unmanned aerial vehicles there 5-10 km from the Romanian border. That is, the unmanned aerial vehicle of the operational-tactical level in this way also provokes NATO countries. Here, we see the consequences," Hnat noted.
- On the morning of October 31, Russian troops launched a massive missile attack on critical infrastructure facilities in Ukraine. The light went out in a number of areas. The rockets hit objects in the city of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, the city of Svitlovodsk (Kirovohrad region), as well as in Kyiv, Cherkasy, Vinnytsia and Chernivtsi regions. Rockets were shot down in Khmelnytskyi and Lviv regions.
- The occupiers damaged 18 facilities in 10 regions of Ukraine, most of which are energy facilities. As of 1:30 p.m. on October 31, 13 wounded civilians are known.
- Air defense forces shot down 44 missiles out of more than 50. They were launched by strategic aviation planes from the north of the Caspian Sea and from the Rostov region. One of the downed missiles fell in the village of Naslavcha in Moldova.
- On October 10, the Russians launched missiles at Ukraine through the territory of Moldova. After that, the countryʼs government decided to purchase air defense systems.