Romania Rejects Ukraine Claim That Russian Missile Entered Airspace

The Romanian gov't has rejected claims made by the head of the Ukrainian armed forces that a Russian cruise missile entered its airspace earlier today. A statement from the Romanian Ministry of National Defencestated that at "The closest point of the target's trajectory to Romania's airspace was recorded by the radar systems approximately 35km North-East of the border." While the missile coming so close to Romanian airspace will be seen as something of a provocation by Moscow, it will mitigate the prospect of any immediate NATO retaliation or enhancing of NATO force deployment in Romania.

• Neighbouring Moldova has confirmed that the missile did enter its airspace, calling in the Russian ambassador to explain the situation (there will be little NATO reaction given that Romania is a member state but Moldova is not). This comes amid a change in gov't in Chisinau, with former Interior Minister Dorin Recean nominated by President Maia Sandu to replace Natalia Gavrilita.
• Moldova continues to struggle with the economic impact of the war in Ukraine that has led to major energy price hikes and increased tensions with the breakaway region of Transnistria. The incoming PM, who must be approved in parliament, hails from the same pro-EU pro-Ukraine liberal Party of Action and Solidarity as Sandu and Gavrilita.