In a tit-for-tat response to Moldova's expulsion of a Russian embassy employee, Moscow has announced the expulsion of a Moldovan diplomat on October 25, 2022. This move comes amidst a prolonged deterioration in relations between the two nations, escalating since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs cited reciprocity as the reason for this decision, following Moldova's declaration of a staff member of the Russian embassy in Chisinau as persona non grata on October 23, under the pretext of an alleged discovery of debris from a drone carrying explosives within the republic.
The ministry accused Moldova of taking another unfriendly step aimed at further undermining centuries-long Russian-Moldovan relations. Moldova's President Maia Sandu had earlier reportedly claimed that a Russian attack drone had violated the country's airspace and crashed near residential areas and an energy facility in October. Drones have penetrated Moldovan territory on multiple occasions since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, straining relations between the two countries even further.
Moreover, some former Soviet states, including Moldova, have been pushing to join the European Union, further complicating ties with Russia. Last month, Moldova officially launched a new power line connecting the country to neighboring Romania and the European grid, reducing its dependence on Russian energy. This move is seen as another strategic step towards distancing itself from Moscow.
As other European-aligned states in the Black Sea region report renewed attacks allegedly carried out by Moscow, tensions continue to simmer between Russia and its former Soviet neighbors, with diplomatic expulsions serving as a reminder of the ongoing geopolitical struggles in the region.