Ukrainian Guards Detained in Moldova After River Chase of Men Fleeing

Ukrainian border guards chasing compatriots who tried to cross the Dniester River into Moldova have ended up on Moldovan territory and been detained by Moldovan border police at least twice in October. The incidents put a spotlight on Ukraine's ban on men leaving the country and on Moldova's protection of those who apply for asylum.

Key facts

• Men aged 23-60 are forbidden to leave Ukraine.
• At least twice in October 2026, pursuing Ukrainian guards landed on the Moldovan side and were detained.
• Guards involved in the 15 October incident were released and sent back to Ukraine a few days later.
• Between February 2022 and March 2026, about 44,000 Ukrainians, mostly men, were caught crossing illegally into Moldova.
• Asylum applicants in Moldova cannot be sent back if there are reasonable grounds to fear danger or torture.

What happened on the Dniester River?

A video posted on 21 October by the small right-wing opposition party Democracy At Home appears to show two camouflaged Ukrainian border guards in a motor-powered dinghy circling a man struggling in the water on 15 October. At one point one of them tries to hit the swimmer repeatedly with an oar.

Local residents pulled the man from the river and he was hospitalised, according to Moldovan media reports. He was identified as Oleksiy Koval, a 49-year-old clinical psychologist from Kyiv who was reportedly trying to reach family members who had already left Ukraine. Officials said he applied for asylum in Moldova, making his return to Ukraine highly unlikely.

Why are men crossing into Moldova?

Ukraine is facing a manpower shortage in its defence against Russia's full-scale war, and recruiters have sometimes used forceful methods to round up men. Most men aged 23-60 cannot legally leave the country, and many have tried to reach Moldova or neighbouring Romania, including by crossing potentially treacherous rivers.

Many of those fleeing rely on smuggling networks that operate on both sides of the border and charge fees. Cooperation between Kyiv and Chisinau focuses mainly on dismantling these networks, according to the account.

What protection does Moldova give asylum applicants?

Once Ukrainian men reach Moldovan soil and apply for asylum, the law effectively prevents their repatriation: authorities may not return applicants if there are reasonable grounds to believe their lives would be in danger or that they risk torture or other inhuman or degrading treatment. Most of the roughly 44,000 Ukrainians caught crossing illegally between February 2022 and March 2026 moved on to other European countries.

What happens when guards cross into Moldova?

The guards involved in the 15 October chase were held by Moldovan counterparts, then released and sent back to Ukraine a few days later. Ukraine's Border Guard Service said it had opened an investigation and explained that the patrol ended up on Moldovan territory because the water level was low and the boat's outboard motor failed.

The release drew criticism from both the Party of Socialists and Democracy At Home, while a ruling-party lawmaker said the Foreign Ministry had sent a note of protest to Kyiv. The ministry denied this, saying the matter was "being addressed through institutional communication channels." Prime Minister Vasile Tofan defended the authorities' handling, saying such incidents would not happen if Russia were not attacking Ukraine.

What this means for travellers

Men subject to Ukraine's exit ban should be aware that the Dniester and other border rivers remain used as crossing points despite the risks. Anyone considering international protection in Moldova should note that an asylum application, once lodged there, carries legal protection against being sent back.

Ukraine's Border Guard Service investigation into the 15 October incident remains open, and the Moldovan parties that criticised the guards' release have asked the government for answers about the legal basis for that decision.