Travellers face no service at Palanka–Mayaki–Udobne after shelling near Moldova border

Moldova's Border Police have suspended operations at the Palanka–Mayaki–Udobne checkpoint on the border with Ukraine after a shell struck a passenger bus near the crossing on 5 October 2026. One border guard was injured, and no border crossings are currently taking place at the site.

Key facts

• The shell landed near the "Palanka" checkpoint at 9:38 a.m. on 5 October 2026
• After hitting the ground, it ricocheted and struck a passenger bus near the barrier
• A Border Police officer sustained minor injuries; there were no other casualties
• The bus and the control booth were damaged, according to preliminary information
• Operations at the Palanka–Mayaki–Udobne checkpoint have been suspended

What happened at the checkpoint?

Moldova's Border Police reported that a shell landed near the checkpoint at 9:38 a.m. After striking the ground, it ricocheted and hit a passenger bus standing near the barrier. Preliminary information indicates the bus and the control booth were damaged.

A Border Police officer suffered minor injuries in the incident. The Border Police said there were no other casualties.

Is the border crossing still open?

No. Moldova's Border Police said operations at the Palanka–Mayaki–Udobne checkpoint have been suspended. Andrii Demchenko, a spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, confirmed that no border crossings are currently taking place at the "Palanka" checkpoint on Moldovan territory.

"Indeed, the 'Palanka' border crossing point, located on Moldovan territory, is currently not processing travelers," he said. Demchenko declined to comment further on the incident, saying that is the responsibility of the Moldovan side.

What this means for travellers

Travellers planning to cross between Moldova and Ukraine at the Palanka–Mayaki–Udobne checkpoint cannot currently do so, as the crossing is not processing travellers. The Moldovan Border Police, together with the Customs Service, said it is monitoring the situation and maintaining contact with the relevant Ukrainian authorities.

No reopening date has been announced. Anyone planning a crossing should check the status of the checkpoint before setting out.

The Moldovan Border Police said it is monitoring the situation in cooperation with the Customs Service and staying in contact with the relevant Ukrainian authorities. No timeline for resuming operations at the checkpoint has been given.