Ukrainian border guards detained in Moldova after Nistru River crossing

Two Ukrainian border guards were detained by Moldovan authorities on October 15 near the village of Holoșnița after their motorboat crossed the Nistru River into Moldovan territory. The incident occurred while the patrol was attempting to apprehend a 49-year-old Ukrainian man, Alexei Koval, who was attempting to swim across the river to reach his family.

Ukrainian officials, including spokesperson Andrei Demcenco, stated that the boat entered Moldovan waters due to a combination of shallow water and engine failure, which allowed the current to push the vessel toward the Moldovan shore. The guards have since been handed over to Ukrainian authorities under a bilateral readmission agreement.

Meanwhile, the Moldovan Prosecutor's Office has opened a criminal investigation into the illegal border crossing. The man being pursued, Alexei Koval, was hospitalized with a concussion following the encounter. Koval, a clinical psychologist, claimed he was attempting to flee due to issues regarding his military service exemption documents.