Russian "Banderol" cruise missile crashes in Moldova during strikes on Western Ukraine
A Russian strike vehicle, identified as a Banderol cruise missile or loitering munition, crashed in a cornfield in Moldova on August 17. The incident occurred during an intensified Russian aerial campaign that launched 128 drones overnight against targets in Western Ukraine. Analysts suggest the flight path demonstrates the Kremlin's increasing willingness to risk violating the airspace of neighboring neutral countries to bypass Ukrainian air defenses. No casualties were reported on Moldovan soil.
Date:
Country: Moldova
Conflict: Russia-Ukraine War
Severity: HIGH
Source: Institute for the Study of War