Russian drones strike Starokozache border crossing on Ukraine-Moldova border, killing and injuring civilians
In the night of September 9, Russian strike drones attacked the international automobile border crossing point "Starokozache" in Odesa Oblast, on the border with Moldova. The drones hit checkpoint infrastructure and surrounding areas, causing fires, civilian casualties, damage to vehicles, and a temporary suspension of border processing. Ukraine notified the Moldovan side of the incident.
Key points
- Attack occurred overnight on September 9 at the Starokozache international automobile border crossing point in Odesa Oblast, on the Ukraine-Moldova border
- Russian strike drones hit the checkpoint's infrastructure and adjacent territory, causing fires
- Civilians near the checkpoint were killed and injured; the Odesa Regional Military Administration is cited as reporting two killed and three injured
- Buildings were damaged and buses, trucks, and passenger cars were destroyed
- Rescue workers evacuated 16 people from the site to temporary accommodation
- Processing of people and vehicles at this section of the border has been temporarily suspended
- Ukraine informed the Moldovan side about the attack
Why it matters
The strike hit a functioning international civilian crossing on the Ukraine-Moldova frontier, harming civilians and damaging infrastructure shared by two neighboring countries. Attacks on operational international checkpoints are rare and fall outside traditional combat zones. The damage and suspension of processing have humanitarian and logistical consequences for cross-border movement, and Ukraine's formal notification to Moldova signals possible cross-border diplomatic implications.
What happened
In the night of September 9, Russian strike drones attacked the international automobile border crossing point "Starokozache" in Odesa Oblast, on the Ukraine-Moldova border. The drones struck the checkpoint's infrastructure and the adjacent territory, sparking fires. Civilians who were near the crossing point were killed and injured; the Odesa Regional Military Administration is cited as reporting two people killed and three injured. Buildings were damaged and buses, trucks, and passenger cars were destroyed. Rescue workers evacuated 16 people from the site and transported them by bus to a safe location for temporary accommodation. Processing of persons and vehicles at this section of the border was temporarily suspended. Ukraine informed the Moldovan side of the incident. The information was reported by the Southern Regional Directorate of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (DPSU) and the State Customs Service.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
All available reporting is from Ukrainian sources and uniformly attributes the strike to Russian forces using strike drones (UAVs). The information is sourced to specific Ukrainian state bodies — the Southern Regional Directorate of the State Border Guard Service (DPSU), the State Customs Service, and the Odesa Regional Military Administration (OVA). Coverage emphasizes the civilian character of the target, civilian casualties, infrastructure damage, and the suspension of border processing. Several reports reference damage to civilian vehicles (buses, trucks, passenger cars) and the evacuation of 16 people to temporary accommodation.
Where reporting differs
Casualty counts differ across official Ukrainian sources: the Odesa Regional Military Administration is cited as reporting two killed and three injured, while the State Border Guard Service and the State Customs Service did not specify the exact number of casualties.
Background
The "Starokozache" checkpoint is an international automobile border crossing point in Odesa Oblast on the Ukraine-Moldova border. Ukraine has faced repeated long-range drone strikes by Russian forces targeting infrastructure during the war. Cross-border coordination with Moldova is reported to be active: Ukraine informed the Moldovan side of the attack.