Moldova opens camp for Ukrainians stranded by drone strike

Moldova has set up a temporary camp near the border to accommodate Ukrainian citizens who are currently unable to return home after a Russian drone attack left a key bridge on the Odesa–Reni highway closed.

According to a statement from Moldova’s General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the decision was taken to ensure the safety of civilians stranded at the border.

The mobile camp was deployed in the town of Palanca by the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU) in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. It is intended for people who are forced to wait for the reopening of border crossings into Ukraine via the “Palanca–Maiaki–Udobne” and “Tudora–Starokozatske” checkpoints.

Those staying at the camp are being provided with basic assistance, including food and hot drinks. Emergency services have also advised families with children to make use of specially equipped accommodation with sleeping facilities until the security situation is clarified and normal traffic is restored.

The border checkpoints were closed following drone attacks in the area. On the evening of December 18, Russian forces struck a bridge near the village of Maiaki outside Odesa with a drone. The unmanned aerial vehicle hit a car carrying a woman and children. The woman was killed in the attack, while the children sustained serious injuries.

After the strike, movement toward several border crossings along the Ukrainian–Moldovan border in the Odesa region was restricted. Traffic along the Odesa–Reni highway was suspended as a result.

Odesa region has come under intensified attacks in recent days. On December 17, Russian forces carried out two waves of strikes on the region, damaging a transport infrastructure facility. Earlier, during the night of December 13, occupying forces launched a series of attacks on the region’s energy infrastructure.

The damage caused widespread power outages, leaving nearly the entire region without electricity. The situation has been particularly severe in the city of Artsyz in the Odesa region, where electricity supplies may not be fully restored until December 26.

By Tamilla Hasanova