Moldova shuts down Russian cultural center in Chisinau

Moldova has closed the Russian Cultural Center in response to repeated violations of its national airspace by drones linked to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned the Russian Ambassador to Moldova Oleg Ozerov on Thursday as “a matter of urgency”, following a new and “serious invasion of the airspace of the Republic of Moldova by Russian drones.”

During the meeting with the Russian diplomat, the minister presented fragments of drones that had crashed on Moldovan territory, describing them as "evidence of the serious threat against the people of our country," according to a statement from the ministry.

“We strongly condemn Russia’s reckless drone attacks, which violated Moldova’s airspace again last night and endangered our people. This brutal attack is unacceptable. The war against Ukraine must stop. Today, we will summon the Russian ambassador,” - Mihai Popșoi, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova stated in his post on platform X.

In response to these "provocations," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to "unilaterally denounce the Moldovan-Russian intergovernmental agreement on the establishment and operation of cultural centers, signed in 1998. With the termination of this agreement, the Russian cultural center will cease its activities in our country."

According to media reports, two drones were discovered in the southern part of the country. One was found in an agricultural field near the village of Ciumai in the Taraclia district, while the other exploded in a field approximately 1.5 kilometers from Ceadîr-Lunga.

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