Russian Attack on Ukraine-Moldova Border Crossing Kills Two, Injures Three

A Russian attack on the Starokozache border crossing between Ukraine and Moldova overnight on September 9 killed two civilians and injured three others, Odesa Regional Military Administration head Oleh Kiper reported.

Oleh Kiper said the victims were civilians who were near the checkpoint when the strike occurred. The attack hit infrastructure at the crossing and the surrounding area.

Emergency crews evacuated another 16 people by bus to a safe distance following the strike, according to Odesa Regional Military Administration head.

He also stated that operations at the Starokozache checkpoint were suspended as a result of the attack.

Ukraine’s State Emergency Service reported that the attack damaged buildings and destroyed buses, trucks, and passenger vehicles. A large fire also broke out at the site following the strikes.

The Southern Regional Directorate of Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service said that Ukrainian authorities also informed Moldova about the incident.

Border crossings between Ukraine and Moldova have repeatedly been targeted in Russian attacks. On August 20, Russian forces carried out a drone strike on another checkpoint in Ukraine’s Odesa region along the Moldovan border, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Russian aerial attacks on Ukraine have also repeatedly resulted in drones entering neighboring Moldova’s airspace. On August 27, five drones crossed into Moldovan airspace without authorization during an overnight Russian attack on Ukraine.

The first drone reportedly entered Moldova from Ukrainian territory at 3:56 a.m. near Biliaivka and flew toward Palanca in the Ștefan Vodă district before leaving Moldovan airspace and heading back toward Ukraine.

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