While Moldova confirmed Ukraine’s claim that Russian missiles violated its airspace, Romania firmly denies it.
Bucharest denied reports that a Russian missile had flown over the country, and refuted Kyiv’s claim that two Moscow missiles crossed the NATO member’s airspace en route to Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said several Russian missiles flew over Moldova and NATO member Romania on Friday, and they were a challenge to the military alliance and collective security.
“The enemy launched at least 70 missiles in another massive attack [on Ukraine] this morning,” Zelenskyy said in a video posted on the messaging app Telegram.
“Several Russian missiles passed through the airspace of Moldova and Romania. These missiles present a challenge to NATO and collective security. This is terrorism that can and must be stopped.”
But in a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Romania denied these claims, saying that authorities had detected an “air target launched from the Black Sea from a ship of the Russian Federation” but “no point intersects Romania’s airspace.”
“The target’s closest trajectory to Romanian airspace was recorded by radar at about 35km (22 miles) northeast of the border,” the statement continued.
The statement added that two Romanian Air Force MiG-21 LanceRs on a NATO air surveillance mission were sent to northern Romania “to supplement their response options.” I”.
The statement concluded by saying that the Romanian Air Force is permanently monitoring the country’s airspace and its immediate surroundings.
Ukraine’s top general said earlier that two Kaliber missiles launched from the Black Sea entered Moldovan airspace, then flew into Romanian airspace, before entering Ukrainian territory.
For its part, the Ministry of Defense of Moldova confirmed The Foreign Ministry said in a press release that it had detected “a missile flying over Moldova’s airspace” and said it would summon Moscow’s ambassador “to point out … the unacceptable violation… receive”.
Moldova has found Russian missile debris on its territory during Russia’s nearly year-long invasion of Ukraine.
Wave of attacks in Ukraine
Meanwhile, Russia unleashed a new wave of missile strikes on energy infrastructure across Ukraine on Friday, triggering emergency power outages for millions and prompting Kiev to call on the West to provide supplies. new weapon.
Local officials said at least 17 rockets hit the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia in an hour in the heaviest assault since Russia invaded Ukraine last February.
Energy Minister German Galushchenko said that thermal and hydroelectric power generation facilities as well as high-voltage infrastructure were attacked in six regions, forcing emergency power cuts across most of the country.
“The most difficult situation is in the regions of Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv and Khmelnytskyi,” he said, referring to regions in southeastern, northeastern and western Ukraine.
“Thanks to the successful operation of the air defense forces and the initial technical measures, it was possible to preserve the integrity of the Ukrainian energy system. Energy workers are working tirelessly to restore energy supplies.”
DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, said four of its thermal power plants were damaged and two energy workers were injured. Water supplies were also affected in some areas, local officials said.
Following attacks in various parts of the country, officials said 13 rockets were shot down in the southern Odesa region, 10 were downed in the capital Kyiv and four in the Kryviy region. Rih in central Ukraine.
There have been no reports of any deaths yet, but Oleh Synehubov, governor of the Kharkiv region, said eight people were injured.
