Moldovan police discovered fragments of a drone, including its engine, in a field near the village of Colonița on Sept. 18. Specialised explosive-technical experts secured the area and recovered additional components within a 100 meter radius of the explosion site, located approximately 10 km from the capital.

First reports of a powerful blast and flash reached authorities at 04:20 after residents in Colonița, Bubuieci, and parts of Chișinău heard the explosion. The Ministry of Defence coordinated with local police who deployed drone teams to examine the area from above and determine the trajectory of the object.