Moldova said three Russian cruise missiles targeting Ukraine have violated Moldovan airspace on October 10, and summoned the Russian ambassador to demand explanations.

Ukraine was targeted by a wave of deadly missile strikes on October 10 that appeared to be launched by Russia as revenge after President Vladimir Putin blamed an explosion on the bridge linking Russia with illegally annexed to Crimea on Ukrainian "terrorists."

Three cruise missiles launched on Ukraine this morning from Russian ships in the Black Sea crossed Moldova's airspace. I instructed that Russia's ambassador be summoned to provide an explanation.

Nicu Popescu, Moldovan Foreign Minister, on Twitter

Popescu expressed outrage at the many strikes carried out on Ukrainian cities on Monday. “Appalled by multiple Russian rocket strikes on cities across Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv, striking civilian targets. Russia must stop killing,” he said.

He said his office had been in touch with Moldovan embassy staff in Kyiv and that they were safe “and sheltering from these senseless attacks on civilians”.

“Our thoughts are with the victims of the brutal strikes,” Popescu said.

Like Ukraine, tiny Moldova is a former part of the Soviet Union with a pro-Western government.

Moldova was along with Ukraine granted candidate status by the European Union in a show of support in the face of Russia’s offensive.

Moldova has a small breakaway region, Transnistria, which is armed and supported by Russia.