Russian Projectile Hits Passenger Bus at Moldova–Ukraine Border Crossing, Injuring Officer

A projectile struck a passenger bus near the Palanca border crossing in Moldova on the morning of October 5 amid Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, injuring a Moldovan border police officer and prompting authorities to temporarily suspend operations at the checkpoint, NewsMaker reported.

According to the outlet, the projectile fell near the Palanca–Maiaky-Udobne border crossing at around 9:38 a.m., ricocheted off the ground, and hit a passenger bus that was stopped near the barrier.

Moldova’s Border Police said one of its officers sustained minor injuries in the incident. Preliminary information indicated that the bus and a border control booth were also damaged, while no other casualties were reported.

Following the incident, operations at the Palanca–Maiaky-Udobne checkpoint were suspended. Moldova’s Border Police and Customs Service said they were monitoring the situation and maintaining contact with the relevant Ukrainian authorities, according to NewsMaker.

At 10:50 a.m., authorities also temporarily closed traffic toward Palanca from the intersection of the R30 and R31 highways in Moldova’s Ștefan Vodă district. According to the General Police Inspectorate, the restriction will remain in place while authorities document the scene and investigate the circumstances of the incident.

Patrol officers are redirecting vehicles toward Tudora, while drivers and residents have been urged to avoid the affected area.

The incident comes amid a series of recent Russian attacks and drone incursions affecting areas along the Ukraine-Moldova border. Overnight on September 9, a Russian strike on the Starokozache border crossing left two civilians dead and three others injured, according to Odesa Regional Military Administration head Oleh Kiper.

Kiper said the casualties were civilians who were near the checkpoint when the attack occurred, which also damaged infrastructure at the crossing and in the surrounding area. Emergency crews subsequently evacuated another 16 people by bus to a safe location.

Moldova’s airspace was also breached on October 3, when five drones entered the country within a 15-minute period. Explosions were reported across several districts, while authorities discovered drone wreckage at multiple locations. No casualties were reported.

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