On September 22, 2025, Moldovan President Maia Sandu delivered a stark warning to her nation, raising the alarm over what she described as a very real and immediate threat: Moscow’s alleged efforts to use Moldova as a springboard for a possible invasion of Ukraine’s Odesa region. In a speech that resonated throughout the country and its diaspora, Sandu did not mince words. According to NewsMaker, she stated, "Today I tell you with all seriousness that our sovereignty, independence, integrity and European future are under threat. The Kremlin is throwing away hundreds of millions of euros to buy hundreds of thousands of votes on both banks of the Dniester River, as well as outside the country."
Sandu’s message was not just a call to vigilance; it was a plea for unity in the face of mounting geopolitical pressure. She urged Moldovans at home and abroad to stand firm in support of the country's European course, emphasizing that the stakes had never been higher. If pro-Russian forces were to gain ground in the upcoming elections, she warned, Moldova could find itself transformed into a transit platform for Russian military ambitions, with the breakaway Transnistrian region particularly vulnerable to destabilization.
"Europe will end at the border with Moldova. European funds will stop at the Prut. Freedom of movement may end. Our land may become an infiltration ramp to the Odesa Region. We, the people of the Republic of Moldova, cannot allow the country to surrender to foreign interests," Sandu declared, as reported by NewsMaker. Her words underscored the gravity of the situation, painting a picture of a nation at a crossroads—one where the outcome of the parliamentary elections could determine not just the country’s future, but the stability of the broader region.
The president’s concerns are not unfounded. In recent years, Moldova has found itself in the crosshairs of a larger geopolitical struggle, with the status of the pro-Russian Transnistria region adding fuel to the fire. International partners have repeatedly voiced apprehension over the possibility of Kremlin interference in Moldova’s internal affairs. According to the Ukrainian News Agency, former Ukrainian MP Ihor Miroshnychenko even suggested that Kyiv could have executed an operation to de-occupy Transnistria a year ago, thereby reducing threats from the rear. However, he noted that resources were instead allocated to an "adventurous operation in the Kursk Oblast."
The threat of foreign meddling is not just theoretical. As UNN and NewsMaker reported, President Sandu explicitly accused Moscow of actively financing voter bribery, spreading disinformation, and orchestrating provocations in the lead-up to the parliamentary elections. She asserted that "the Kremlin has accomplices" within Moldova, a claim that has only intensified the sense of urgency as the September 28 election date draws near.
These concerns were echoed by revelations from the BBC, which uncovered a clandestine network, allegedly funded by Russia, working to undermine Moldova’s democratic process. The network’s participants, according to the BBC, were promised financial incentives in exchange for spreading pro-Russian propaganda and disinformation—particularly targeting the pro-European party and President Sandu herself. The campaign of misinformation has included the dissemination of fake medical documents purporting to show Sandu suffering from mental health disorders. However, these documents have been debunked, with numerous factual errors and treatment dates coinciding with Sandu’s official public appearances, effectively refuting the claims.
Sandu’s response to these attacks has been resolute. She called on citizens not to succumb to manipulation, urging them to "protect the future of the country" and resist the temptation of short-term gains at the expense of Moldova’s independence and European aspirations. Her appeal was directed not only at those within Moldova’s borders but also at the diaspora, whose votes could prove pivotal in the upcoming elections.
The broader context of Sandu’s warning cannot be ignored. Moldova sits at the intersection of East and West, its history marked by a tug-of-war between Russian influence and European integration. The unresolved status of Transnistria—a narrow strip of land along the Dniester River, controlled by pro-Russian separatists since the early 1990s—has long been a source of tension and a potential flashpoint for wider conflict. The possibility that Moldova could become a "transit platform" for Russian military operations, as Sandu warned, is not just a hypothetical scenario; it is a concern shared by many in the international community.
International partners have expressed their unease over these developments, with calls for vigilance and support for Moldova’s democratic institutions. The specter of foreign interference in elections is, unfortunately, not new to the region. In recent years, several Eastern European countries have faced similar challenges, with varying degrees of success in countering misinformation campaigns and attempts to sway public opinion through covert means.
What sets the current situation in Moldova apart is the scale and brazenness of the alleged interference. Sandu’s claim that "hundreds of millions of euros" are being funneled into the country to buy votes and influence the outcome of the elections is extraordinary. If true, it would represent one of the largest such operations in recent memory, highlighting the high stakes involved for both Moscow and Brussels.
For ordinary Moldovans, the choice at the ballot box is about more than just party politics. It is, as Sandu framed it, a choice between "surrendering to foreign interests" and charting an independent, European future. The president’s message to her people was clear: "We cannot allow the country to surrender to foreign interests." The upcoming elections, therefore, are not just about who will govern Moldova for the next term—they are about the very identity and direction of the country.
As the election approaches, all eyes will be on Moldova. The outcome will not only determine the country’s trajectory but could also have far-reaching implications for the security and stability of the region. Sandu’s warning serves as a reminder that, in today’s interconnected world, the fate of a small country on the edge of Europe can have consequences that ripple far beyond its borders.
With days to go before Moldovans head to the polls, the question remains: will the country resist external pressures and reaffirm its commitment to a European path, or will it find itself drawn deeper into the orbit of its eastern neighbor? The answer, it seems, will be decided not just in the voting booths, but in the hearts and minds of Moldova’s people.