Moldova, which recently marked 35 years of independence, is facing escalating pressure from Russia as the war in neighbouring Ukraine edges closer to its borders. Officials say Moscow has struck Ukrainian border infrastructure near Moldova and repeatedly violated Moldovan airspace, moves seen as attempts to intimidate the country into scaling back its support for Ukraine and to disrupt vital trade corridors, particularly grain exports rerouted through Moldova to Romanian ports.

According to national security adviser Stanislav Secrieru, Russia violated Moldovan airspace 17 times in August, the highest monthly total since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, including five drone incursions just hours before independence celebrations. President Maia Sandu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who attended Chișinău's Independence Day events, both condemned the actions, while analysts warned the incidents fit a broader pattern of Russian hybrid warfare designed to test European resolve. The tensions coincide with both Moldova and Ukraine's stalled bids for EU membership and follow a surprise visit by CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Moscow, fuelling speculation about wider Russian ambitions towards NATO's eastern flank.