VIDEO // President at Moldova Security Forum 2026: Russia is trying to test our limits, but every time we have managed to cope. In European family, we will be even stronger

The Republic of Moldova is already contributing to European security, while integration into the European Union will strengthen Europe’s eastern borders, including amid the threats generated by Russia’s war against Ukraine. The Russian Federation is trying to test our limits with drones, missiles and lies, but every time we have managed to cope. A small country on the edge of Europe cannot hold the front indefinitely without the protection of the larger family. Moldova is already a security provider, and in the European family we will be even stronger. President Maia Sandu conveyed the message at Moldova Security Forum 2026, held today in Chișinău.

The head of state noted that the Republic of Moldova plays an important role in strengthening European security, beginning with the support provided to Ukraine and the protection of the common border amid the war launched by the Russian Federation.


“This forum is discussing whether a small country can ensure security. A few years ago, few people would have asked this question about the Republic of Moldova. Today, the answer is yes, and allow me to tell you why. The Republic of Moldova is already contributing to European security, and this contribution begins with Ukraine. The country is making efforts to withstand Russia’s attempts to test its methods in the air, in our information space and in our elections, and what we have learned can save our partners time. What strengthens the Republic of Moldova makes Europe stronger, and the strongest guarantee is membership in the European Union. In the most difficult times, a country’s choices matter more than the size of that country. Every state contributes to a part of European security, and the Republic of Moldova begins with that stretch of border with Ukraine. Ukraine has 7,000 kilometers of international borders, almost 3,000 of them with Russia and Belarus, which are hostile. Our section is the largest part of the border Ukraine shares with a friendly state, because the Republic of Moldova is on the right side of history, and Ukraine can focus its forces there where the war is being fought in the east. Russia wanted to turn the Republic of Moldova into a second Belarus and use our territory against Ukraine and against the European Union. Moldovans put an end to this plan at the elections, twice. When we speak about the Republic of Moldova’s contribution to European security, we begin with Ukraine,” Maia Sandu said.


The official emphasized that more than one million Ukrainians who fled the war crossed the border into the Republic of Moldova starting in 2022, while 100,000 found a home here.


“If this winter in Ukraine proves to be just as difficult, we are ready to receive as many people as necessary and ensure their safety. When maritime routes on the Black Sea were blocked by Russia in 2023 and again this year, the Republic of Moldova made its railways and roads available for Ukrainian exports, allowing them to travel through our territory along the vertical corridor for grain and gas. We managed to reduce transit fees because Ukraine’s resilience also means our security. We managed to preserve peace in the Transnistrian region and ensure that Russia’s war did not spread further. We are on the side of the coalition of those who want accountability. During the Republic of Moldova’s presidency of the Council of Europe, work was carried out on the special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, and this work was conducted here in Chișinău, while Russia tried to find other routes through other countries to reach its objectives. Our government did not allow the Republic of Moldova to become a route for evading sanctions. This is the Republic of Moldova’s contribution,” the president said.


Maia Sandu stressed that the Republic of Moldova is facing a hybrid war manifested through violations of its airspace, interference and information manipulation campaigns.


“It is a war that never rests. In the past seven days, nine Russian drones have violated our airspace, and in September there were more than 20, more than during the entire previous year. These drones come to our borders, to the border crossing points with Ukraine, and they do so intentionally. On Monday of this week, a bus was damaged and a Border Police officer was slightly injured. In addition, attacks on infrastructure led to the pollution of the Dniester River, and 3,000 Moldovans were left without safe water for a week. Russian attacks also affected power lines, threatening the electricity supply. This is how attempts are being made to reach the Republic of Moldova by air, by water and through the electricity networks. Every drone and every missile comes together with information manipulation. Through anonymous Telegram channels, Moldovans are told that the danger is caused by our helping Ukrainians and that our army is preparing for someone else’s war. Russia sends drones and then blames those who are standing alongside the victims. This means reversing responsibility, a classic method of manipulation. Its purpose is to frighten citizens, to turn them against the institutions in their own country and to make them unwilling to support Ukraine and our own defense,” she said.


During the event, the president warned that Russia uses information manipulation to influence citizens’ perceptions of security and defense partnerships, including by spreading fears related to the ammunition depot in Cobasna.


“Moscow wants to discredit our defense partnerships and reduce public support for a modern army. A weak army is useful to Moscow on the day defense becomes necessary. Information manipulation by Russia is not something new. I am also referring to the depot in Cobasna in the Transnistrian region. For decades, the Republic of Moldova was told that it could explode with catastrophic force, affecting the entire region. This year, our experts verified these claims through engineering calculations and inspected the land around that depot. Of the approximately 14,000 tons stored there, around 20% are explosives distributed in separate areas. A catastrophic explosion cannot occur in any realistic scenario. However, Russian troops have been guarding the depot since 1992. They promised to leave in 1999, but they are still there, and fear is being used to justify their presence,” Maia Sandu pointed out.


In the current regional context, the head of state warned that the Republic of Moldova has become a laboratory for Russia’s electoral interference, but has managed to resist and withstand these attempts every time.


“Citizens in several EU states will vote in the coming year. The methods tested in the Republic of Moldova are already prepared. During two electoral cycles, we managed to see the full range of tools at their disposal. A sanctioned Russian bank opened thousands of accounts to bribe voters in the Republic of Moldova. Millions of euros were intercepted at airports in a single day. Illegal money is converted into cryptocurrencies so that it can be used to bribe voters. There were also false bomb alerts at airports on election days, as well as sophisticated cyberattacks, with more than one billion attacks against our electoral infrastructure, aimed at rendering the system inoperable on election day. Russia spent approximately 2% of our time on such actions, while our institutions managed to withstand them and the majority of Moldovans voted for Europe. In the Republic of Moldova, Russian interference was open and brutal. The Republic of Moldova has experienced and faced this for years. We share what we have learned from this experience with our allies. During our presidency of the Council of Europe, we argued for the need to establish a framework in this regard, in order to address information interference and manipulation, so that democracy and those who support democracy can understand the values they uphold and withstand these attacks. During the hybrid war, we have these decisive resources, and I hope that our partners will thereby have time to consider the next steps,” she remarked.


President Maia Sandu also spoke about how networks associated with Ilan Shor have been used for interference in electoral processes and destabilization efforts in the Republic of Moldova.


“Ilan Shor was sentenced in absentia to prison for orchestrating, in 2014, the theft of one billion dollars from the banks of the Republic of Moldova. He fled Israel and now lives in Moscow under the protection of Kremlin. From exile, he bought the elections in Gagauzia in 2023. He organized the disinformation campaign during the 2024 presidential election and against the 2025 parliamentary election. When our elections ended, his network sought and found another field of activity. Criminals recruited to destabilize the Republic of Moldova were redirected to assassinate Ukrainians who play a central and highly important role in their country’s resilience, including a prominent journalist and intelligence and security specialists. Our police investigated Shor network and uncovered what had been planned, cooperating with officers from Ukraine. Several people were arrested in Moldova and Ukraine. When the Constitutional Court blocked and banned the party in 2023, he cloned his organization and attempted to destabilize the situation,” the head of state said.


Maia Sandu also explained that, as threats to the Republic of Moldova diversify, state institutions, the defense sector and international partnerships must develop at a pace that enables the country to respond to new security challenges.


“Cross-border crime is growing during such periods, and Russia also uses it for sabotage. In practice, our border is a filter that we oversee, a filter for Europe. With the help of our partners, we have managed to focus on modernizing our security, including the defense sector. We showed the results at the Military Parade organized on Independence Day. We wanted our citizens to see how our partners have managed to help us. Our greatest priority is air defense. Since 2021, the European Peace Facility has been the backbone of this effort. The Republic of Moldova is the second-largest beneficiary after Ukraine, and we are very grateful for this support. For the Republic of Moldova, candidate status within the EU represents a natural platform for all these aspects,” the official added.


President Maia Sandu emphasized that the Republic of Moldova’s resilience is based on citizens’ trust and the country’s ability to continue its European integration process despite security, economic and energy challenges.


“Our resilience depends on people and on their trust that, despite all these security threats, despite a very serious energy crisis and despite an economy going through difficult times because of the war across the border, we will continue moving toward the European Union. We voted for Europe twice while facing extremely severe tension and pressure. We are coping with the energy shock and continue strengthening the institutions that will take us toward the European Union. We are carrying out reforms at speed and meeting all the conditions, while progress at home must also be reflected in the progress made in the accession process. In many areas of security, the Republic of Moldova is already contributing as a member state, and Moldova, within the European Union, will further strengthen Europe’s eastern borders and ensure security for Ukraine’s southeastern flank. In this way, we are addressing and overcoming the challenges Russia is trying to create in this direction. Russia is trying to test our limits with drones, missiles and lies, but every time the Republic of Moldova has managed to cope. And many of you in this room know this. You have helped us. A small country on the edge of Europe cannot hold the front indefinitely without the protection of the larger family. Moldova is already a security provider, and in the European family we will be even stronger,” the head of state concluded.


The third edition of Moldova Security Forum is taking place today and tomorrow in Chișinău. The event brings together more than 700 participants and approximately 90 experts from 20 countries to discuss the security of the Republic of Moldova, Europe and the Black Sea region. The theme of this edition is “Strengthening democratic resilience and security through strategic vision and multilateral cooperation.” The program is taking place amid Russia’s war against Ukraine and the threats affecting the entire region.