Moscow, Russia - The Russian foreign ministry warned Saturday there would be a "tough response" from Moscow after Moldova expelled one of its embassy staff members in Chisinau over an alleged airspace violation.

"The hostile actions of the Moldovan leadership will not remain without an adequate tough response from the Russian side," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.

Her comment came after Moldovan President Maia Sandu accused Moscow late Friday of violating her country's airspace and "putting Moldovan lives at risk."

"Today, a Russian Geran attack drone violated our airspace and fell near family homes and an energy facility," she wrote on X.

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"We condemn this latest dangerous act. In response, we have declared a Russian embassy staff member persona non grata."

Moldovan police meanwhile said on Telegram on Saturday that the Geran 4 drone was found on the outskirts of Chistelnita village, in the central district of Telenesti, carrying a 52.4-kilo warhead.

"The warhead was removed and transported to safety," they said, adding that the national army's bomb disposal unit had "carried out a controlled destruction."

Zakharova slammed the reasoning for the move against the embassy staff member, charging that "the evidence of the 'Russian' origin (of the drone) was not presented."

Moldova, a small nation nestled between Ukraine and Romania, has previously expelled several Russian diplomats.

Drones have also repeatedly entered its territory since 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Russia once maintained strong ties with Moldova, a former Soviet republic, until a pro-Western government took power in 2020.

Relations between the two countries have deteriorated significantly since the start of the war in Ukraine, and the situation has been compounded by the Sandu government's push for her country to join the European Union.