The Republic of Moldova received an air defense radar from the French company Thales, Chisinau authorities announced on Wednesday, Sky News reports.

The delivery of the radar by Thales marks the first step in the development of air defense after missile fragments fell on the territory of Moldova in the context of the war in Ukraine.

The Minister of Defense of Moldova, Anatoly Nosatiy, said that the surveillance system will be able to control the airspace of the entire country, which borders Romania and Ukraine.

Dorin Rechan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, added: “We have no air defense, we have no missiles, we have no planes. The next step is an air defense system for critical infrastructure, including the airport, power plants, etc.”

“This is just the beginning,” said the Prime Minister of Moldova.

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Sky News reminds that the Republic of Moldova gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, and its relations with Russia have deteriorated significantly since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine.

Moldovan authorities have reported the discovery of missile debris in the north of the country at least four times since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.

Earlier on Wednesday, the head of the Belgian army warned that Moldova and the Baltic states could be Vladimir Putin’s next targets, telling the countries they should be “worried”.

“If the Kremlin decides to attack us, what will we do?”

In recent days, the Prime Minister of Moldova, Dorin Rechan, has said that his country needs a modern air defense system to counter threats from Russia, exacerbated by Moscow’s incursion into Ukraine, its eastern neighbor.

Recean made this statement in the context of the approval by the parliament of the Republic of Moldova of a new security strategy, which identifies Moscow as the biggest threat to the security of the country and its pro-European government.

The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and accused the Kremlin of conspiring to remove her from power.

Last week, the European Union agreed to start discussions on the accession of both the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. But, unlike Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova has a neutral status enshrined in the Constitution, and does not aspire to join the North Atlantic Alliance.

Recan said that the Republic of Moldova intends to acquire a modern air defense system with the help of its EU and NATO allies to protect its airports and basic infrastructure.

“If the Kremlin decides to attack us, what will we do?” Rechan said in a TV interview. “Neutrality will not protect Moldova,” he added.

Recean also noted that developed countries “invest in their security to ensure that their citizens and companies feel safe. If it doesn’t exist, people leave and take their capital with them. This is happening now in Moldova.”

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