Zelensky Joins Moldova’s Independence Day as Russia Violates Its Airspace With 5 Drones

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Chișinău on Thursday, Aug. 27, for Moldova’s Independence Day celebrations, as President Maia Sandu said five Russian drones had violated the country’s airspace hours before the anniversary celebration took place. Sandu called the incursions “intimidation” and said Moldova remained committed to joining the European Union. Meanwhile, Zelensky is due to hold bilateral talks with Sandu before joining a trilateral meeting with Romanian President Nicușor Dan, according to Ukrainska Pravda citing his spokesperson Serhii Nykyforov.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “A few days ago, the president of Moldova was with us in Ukraine on our Independence Day,” Zelensky said in a statement. “Today, Ukraine stands with Moldova on its Independence Day.” “Friends should stand shoulder to shoulder,” he continued. Moldova and Ukraine marked their 35th Independence Day in the same week. The two countries are also taking steps towards the EU together, with their accession paths directly intertwined. Sandu: “Russia might be deliberately sending drones into Moldova” Their meeting comes as Moldova, alongside other allied countries, continues to face repeated drone incursions by Russia. On Aug. 17, Sandu said Russia might be deliberately sending drones into Moldova’s airspace. She made the remarks during the broadcast of “At 360 Degrees” on Teleradio Moldova, saying that the pattern of drone trajectories offers a clue to the question of whether the airspace violations are coincidental or a deliberate test of the region’s response capacity. Other Topics of Interest Central Bank Makes Leap of Faith for Money Market The NBU adjusted deposit-certificate rules to push banks into trading, risking trust earned since the 2022 invasion, but maybe leaving its comfort zone for good. “And the only one who is guilty, the only party that is guilty of these things, is the Russian Federation, which started this war,” she continued. Her comments came as Moldova saw increased drone incidents along its border in recent weeks. Similar drone incursions have been repeatedly reported over NATO territory, particularly over Romania and Poland in recent weeks, fueling speculation that Russia may be testing the alliance’s response capacity along the eastern flank. Around 4:30 a.m. on Aug. 16, just a day before Sandu made the remarks, a drone entered Moldovan airspace from Ukraine and flew over the country for 18 minutes before continuing toward Galaţi, Romania. A Spanish F-18 fighter jet on combat patrol shot the drone down. The incident marked the fourth such instance of an intruding drone being shot down over Romania. On July 27, after NATO fighter jets shot down three stray drones over the weekend of July 24-26, Romania ordered a Russian embassy employee to leave the country within five days in what it called a “firm response” to the drones repeatedly breaching its airspace along the Ukrainian border. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.