Russian drones strike border crossing between Ukraine and Moldova — two killed, three injured

Russian attack drones struck a border crossing between Ukraine and Moldova on 9 September, killing two people and injuring three, Ukrainian authorities said. The strike hit the Starokazache–Tudora crossing in Odesa region, damaging control infrastructure, vehicles and buildings and triggering a large fire that forced about 16 people to evacuate the area.

Wider strikes and reactions

Moldovan officials condemned the attack and President Maia Sandu warned that Russian strikes are increasingly posing a threat to Moldova, calling for urgent measures to strengthen Ukraine's air defences. "The Russian front line is moving increasingly to the west — which makes Ukraine's air defence an urgent issue," she wrote on X. Sandu also said the crossing was closed after the strike.

Prime Minister Vasile Tofan posted a similar message on Facebook, saying Moscow's war against Ukraine is increasingly endangering Moldovan citizens' lives.

Separately, a Russian drone hit a 24‑storey residential building in Kyiv, authorities in the Ukrainian capital reported, causing a fire and injuring at least five people. Ukrainian rescue teams worked at the scene to extinguish the blaze and evacuate residents.

Ukraine also reported a strike overnight on the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. President Volodymyr Zelensky said, "A naval base was hit, including a terminal used for loading oil, military port facilities and warships carrying Kalibr missiles," and added that "Ukraine is responding effectively to 'the daily terrorist attacks by Russia'." Russian regional authorities acknowledged the strike and the governor of Krasnodar Krai, Veniamin Kondratiev, said four people were killed, including a child.

Russia's Defence Ministry claimed its forces shot down 596 Ukrainian drones overnight. The strikes come after visits to Kyiv and Moscow by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who met with both presidents in an attempt described as a new US effort to find a way to end the war.

Photo: Фејсбук-профил на ДСНС на Украина