2023 · South-east Romania and Soroca, Moldova
Romania and Moldova: MiG-21s scramble at a balloon-like object
From the accounts: two Romanian MiG-21s searched for a small balloon-like radar target at 11,000 m, 14 February 2023. · Illustration for uaptrail.com
When14 February 2023
WhereSouth-east Romania and Soroca, Moldova
Backing1 independent
Evidenceofficial records
On 14 February 2023, during the week of the U.S. shoot-downs, Romanian radar picked up a small balloon-like target at 11,000 m and two MiG-21s searched for half an hour without finding it, and Moldova closed its airspace for over an hour over a similar object.
Evidence, in date order (1)
- 14 Feb 2023Romanian Air Force and Moldovan Civil Aviation Authorityofficiala scramble and an airspace closure the same day
How plausible · High
Romanian MiG-21s scrambled at a balloon-like radar target and Moldova closed its airspace the same day; nothing was found.
- ●●Access Military radar and pilots.
- ●●No gain sought Official statements.
- ●●Restraint "Characteristics of a weather balloon."
- ●●Character record Air Force and civil aviation authorities.
- ●●Checkable details check out Official statements.
- ●○Independent convergence Two countries the same day.
Plausibility weighs how well an account fits where secrecy hides the documents by design, so missing records never count against it. Strength measures what is documented. Assessed 2026-10-23.
Claims
A small target 'with characteristics of a weather balloon' at about 11,000 m; two MiG-21 LanceRs from Fetești searched for about 30 minutes with no visual or radar confirmation.firsthandSourced, unconfirmedRomanian Air Force, via Newsweek Romania
Moldova closed its airspace 13:24–14:46 over a balloon-like object near Soroca; possibly a drone or measuring device from Ukraine.firsthandSourced, unconfirmedMoldovan Civil Aviation Authority; speaker Igor Grosu
Where
South-east Romania and Soroca, Moldova
46.5°N 28.0°E · region only