Moldova still fears Moscow: “The Kremlin's attitude has not changed. The risks will increase”

The risks from Russia to the security of the Republic of Moldova will increase, which is why the authorities must not relax, said President Maia Sandu after the meeting of the National Security Council held in Chisinau on Tuesday, reports Deschide.md, IPN and Radio Chisinau, quoted by Agerpres.

Maia Sandu stated that incidents involving drones flying over the airspace of the Republic of Moldova represent a real and constant risk, in the context of the war launched by Russia against Ukraine, stressing that the authorities are working to strengthen defense and monitoring capabilities, but there are no immediate solutions.

“If we don't understand the risks and dangers, we won't be able to protect ourselves. This danger exists and will continue as long as Russia's war against Ukraine is ongoing. There are no magic solutions,” said Maia Sandu in a press conference at the end of the National Security Council meeting.

The Chisinau government has started to invest in radars, defense equipment and technology needed to detect unauthorized objects. In parallel, discussions continue with external partners to obtain additional technology intended to protect the airspace, according to her.

“It is not enough just to detect. It is important to be able to protect our citizens. People's safety is our main concern”, she emphasized, also condemning Russia's attitude towards violations of the airspace of the Republic of Moldova and other European states.

Maia Sandu: “We must be even more vigilant”

On November 25, a drone crashed in an orchard in Cuhureştii de Jos locality, Floreşti district (north of Moldova), on the roof of the guard's house. On the same day, the Border Police announced that a Shahed drone flew over the national airspace in the south of the Republic of Moldova. The device was detected by the Air Operations Service of the Ministry of Defense in the direction of Vinogradovca – Vulcăneşti, after which it moved towards the border with Romania, in the area between the localities of Colibaşi and Vadul lui Isac, later crossing into Romanian airspace, recalls Radio Chişinău.

When asked if the announcement made by the fugitive oligarch Ilan Şor, sentenced to 15 years in prison with execution in the file regarding the theft of the billion, about the closure of all “social projects” in the Republic of Moldova and the withdrawal of political support offered to some local representatives would mean that Russia is changing its attitude in relation to Chisinau, Maia Sandu said that she does not believe that Moscow will change its attitude.

“I don't think that Moscow will change its attitude towards the Republic of Moldova, unfortunately. We would like to have a normal relationship and we would like to know that the Kremlin does not interfere in our internal affairs. But, as we have seen in recent years and, including what we saw after the elections, the attitude of the Kremlin has not changed. Being aware that the risks not only do not disappear, but will increase, because the measures and methods through which they intervene become more complex, we must not we are relaxing. On the contrary, we must be even more vigilant and prepared”, said the President of Moldova in a press conference.

On December 1, Ilan Şor published a video message in which he announced that he was closing all his “social projects” in the Republic of Moldova and withdrawing his political support for some local representatives, according to the media over the Prut.