In November and December 2025, Russian-language accounts wrote about a Russian drone that had crashed in Moldova, describing the incident as staged. On November 25, Russian-language Facebook accounts (1;2;3) published photos of the crashed drone. The photo shows the drone lying on the roof of a house, with the letter Z visible on it. Facebook users emphasize that the drone did not damage the roof and suggest that the incident was staged. For example, posts state, “A drone on a roof – Moldova’s best circus of the year […] the situation looks fake and people can see it”; “Polite drones – the latest invention of engineers.”
On December 5, another Facebook account also wrote about the drone crash, claiming that the incident was clearly staged and demonstrated “how ridiculous such actions are at the political level. This incident was a clear example of how attempts to create a ‘show’ on the international stage can only result in a loss of credibility.”
Information about the crash of a Russian drone in Moldova has been spread in a manipulative manner. The authors of the posts claim that the crash was staged, citing the undamaged roof as evidence. In reality, according to the Moldovan police and expert assessments, the drone model shown in the photo has a landing function that activates after a malfunction, which is why it did not damage the residential building. In addition, the drone was not carrying explosives. Russia has previously used similar drones against neighboring states, and they did not cause damage in those cases either.
On November 25, Moldova’s Ministry of Defense issued a statement saying that as a result of massive attacks on Ukraine, six unauthorized reconnaissance drones crossed Moldovan airspace. According to the statement, the drones were flying toward the Romanian border. The ministry urged the public to report any unauthorized devices they might notice.
Shortly afterward, Moldovan media reported that one of these drones had crashed in the Florești district and fallen onto the roof of a house. The photo circulating on social media depicts this very incident.
On the same day, the Moldovan police also issued a statement. They published a photo of one of the crashed drones and stated that it was a Russian Gerbera-type drone. The police post also provides certain details about the unmanned aerial vehicle: for example, it weighs 18 kilograms and is used for reconnaissance and information gathering, as well as for transporting explosive devices. In this particular case, the drone was not carrying explosives. Relying on expert assessments, the police explained that drones of this type are capable of landing on their own if they run out of power, thereby avoiding crashes and preventing harm to people. They are also equipped with locking technologies that serve the same purpose – preventing accidents. After the incident, the police carried out an evacuation and isolated the crash site.
Additionally, Moldovan media, citing the local analytical center WatchDog, report that Russia frequently uses similar “decoy drones” to test the responses of neighboring states. According to WatchDog analysts, drones of this type do not constitute real combat munitions.
Following the incident, Moldova’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Russian ambassador. The minister handed him a note of protest and emphasized that the incident represented a serious violation of the country’s sovereignty and posed a direct threat to national and regional security. One of the crashed drones was displayed to the Russian ambassador at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Russian drones have frequently violated the airspace of neighboring countries. One such incident occurred in Poland on September 10, 2025. The drones that crashed in Poland and Moldova are visually similar. The drone shot down in Poland bore the marking ЫЫ31402, while the drone that crashed in Moldova was marked ЫЫ47604. A comparison of photos of the drones brought down in the two countries also reveals their visual similarity.
Source: Independent
Source: IPN
It is noteworthy that a similar drone in Poland also did not damage a building. However, the Polish side decided to shoot down Russian unmanned aerial vehicles, during which a missile fired from an F-16 aircraft struck and damaged a house in one of the villages.
What Do We Know About “Gerbera” Drones and What Are They Used For?
According to assessments by Moldovan official bodies and experts, the drones that crashed in the country were of the Gerbera type. This is a propeller-driven drone designed as an imitation of the Iranian-made Shahed drone and intended for flying over fields. Russia actively uses Gerbera drones both in Ukraine and in neighboring countries. They serve a decoy function and, for example, are used in Ukraine to increase the number of targets. During drone attacks, Ukraine’s air defense systems are forced to choose which targets to destroy. In such situations, the defending side may shoot down a less harmful Gerbera drone instead of an Iranian Shahed drone. Producing a Gerbera drone requires a smaller budget. Its body is made of plywood, and it is assembled in Russia.
Source: BBC
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