On March 17, 2024, a video surfaced purportedly showing a drone strike on a Mil Mi-8 helicopter that was grounded at an airstrip close to Tiraspol in the Moldavian region of Transnistria, which is held by separatists and not recognised by the international territory.
Video captures the object hitting the helicopter and the subsequent explosion. Other pictures that surfaced on social media purport to depict the completely carbonised wreckage of the chopper following the attack.
Drone assaults are becoming commonplace in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine; nevertheless, this particular attack has drawn the attention of political and military analysts due to its location in an area that might potentially become another hotspot in the conflict.
Even while it's still unclear who launched the strike, the Moldovan government has immediately called it a provocation and denied any involvement. The aforementioned helicopter has been out of service for a considerable amount of time, as confirmed by Moldova.
Close-up footage of the Mi-8 helicopter in Transnistria being attacked by a drone pic.twitter.com/QMekkx47jO
— Faytuks News Δ (@Faytuks) March 17, 2024
This is in line with what some analysts pointed out on social media, noting that images from before the attack showed the helicopter in an apparent state of disrepair already before the explosion took place.
Some voices have raised the possibility that the attack may have been staged in order to increase political tensions at a time when the Moldovan government is trying to curtail Russian influence in the country.
Security Services in the Moldovan Breakaway-Region of Transnistria are reporting that a One-Way “Suicide” Drone today Struck a Mil Mi-8 Utility Helicopter, which appears to have been Inoperable, with the Transnistria Air Force at a Small Airfield near the Capital of Tiraspol… pic.twitter.com/wMtgBqMHHD
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 17, 2024
In recent weeks tension has escalated between Russia and Moldova, with the latter accusing the former of planning destabilizing acts on the wake of the country’s EU accession candidacy.
In February 2024, Transnistrian separatists requested Russia, which keeps troops in the territory, for “protection”. This was followed, a few days later, by Russia defying Moldovan sovereignty by opening polling stations in the territory.
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