CHISINAU, Feb 14 (Portal) – Moldova briefly closed its airspace on Tuesday to investigate reports of a balloon-like object in the sky, a day after the small eastern European country accused Russia of plotting to overthrow its government.
Russia has dismissed the accusation by President Maia Sandu, who has repeatedly expressed concerns about Russia’s intentions towards the former Soviet republic since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Moldova’s civil aviation authority said it acted after receiving a report from the defense ministry that a small object resembling a weather balloon was seen over the north of the country near the border with Ukraine.
A statement said that “due to weather conditions and the impossibility of observing and identifying the object and its trajectory,” airspace had been closed.
After determining that the safety of citizens was not threatened, authorities lifted the closure an hour and 22 minutes later.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week that his country had uncovered a Russian intelligence plan “to destroy Moldova.” Days later, the Moldovan government resigned.
Moldova said on February 10 a Russian missile violated its airspace during an attack on Ukraine’s infrastructure and called on the Russian ambassador to protest.
Reporting by Pavel Polityuk and Alexander Tanas; writing by Dan Peleschuk, Tom Balmforth and David Ljunggren; Edited by Timothy Heritage, Mike Harrison and Sandra Maler
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