Russia expels Moldovan diplomat in tit-for-tat move

What the report says

Russia has expelled a Moldovan diplomat after Moldova removed a Russian embassy employee in a dispute tied to a drone incident on Moldovan territory, according to Al Jazeera’s report citing Russian officials and Moldovan statements. Russia’s foreign ministry said it summoned Moldova’s ambassador in Moscow and declared a Moldovan embassy staff member unacceptable under reciprocity rules.

The row escalated after Moldovan authorities on October 23 declared a Russian diplomat persona non grata following the alleged discovery of drone debris carrying explosives. Moldovan President Maia Sandu said earlier that a Russian attack drone had entered the country’s airspace and crashed near homes and an energy site. Moscow rejected Chisinau’s account and described Moldova’s action as hostile.

The exchange is the latest sign of strained relations between the two countries, which have deteriorated since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The article notes that drones have crossed into Moldovan airspace several times since then, and that Moldova has moved closer to the European Union while distancing itself from Russian influence.

The report also places the dispute in a wider regional context, pointing to Moldova’s recent launch of a new electricity line to Romania aimed at reducing dependence on Russian energy, and to other Black Sea states that say they face renewed security risks linked to the war.