Moldova’s Prime Minister Vasile Tofan says his country faces a steady stream of Russian drones crossing its airspace, and he warns that Moscow’s aim in Moldova is simple: replace the government with one friendly to Russia.
Nearly 40 Russian drones entered Moldovan airspace in the last eight months alone. Seventeen crashed in August, more than in all of 2025. Tofan spoke with Nick Schifrin at the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
Drones Over Moldova
Tofan said Russia is probing NATO because many of the drones make it to Romania, a NATO country. He said Russia is also trying to hit supply routes for Ukrainian grain export.
The prime minister said Moldova needs raiders to scan the sky and interceptors to protect itself. He noted the cost of such technology has come down. The president has acknowledged that air defense systems are “woefully behind.”
Moldova will stay neutral but can still help Ukraine, including allowing grain transportation through Moldova. Moldova shares about 800 miles of border with Ukraine, the longest shared border with any western neighbor.
A Long History of Interference
Russia has repeatedly interfered in Moldovan elections. The tactics include:
- Financing opposition candidates
- Launching a disinformation campaign
- Hacking into the phones of government officials
Moldova’s PM said Russia sees Moldova as a potential victim and has used the entire range of instruments. He said Moldova has won elections despite interference on multiple occasions.
Independent media investigators have produced documentaries exposing Russian networks operating in Moldova. Moldova created the Center for Strategic Communications and Countering Disinformation.
The Scale of the Problem
- Nearly 40 Russian drones entered Moldovan airspace in the last eight months.
- Seventeen Russian drones crashed in August, more than in all of 2025.
- Moldova accused Russia of trying but failing to engineer a win for a pro-Russian, anti-European party in their 2025 parliamentary elections. The accusation remains unresolved.
- Russia has repeatedly interfered in Moldovan elections, financing opposition candidates, launching a disinformation campaign, and hacking into the phones of government officials.
- Tofan said Russia’s ultimate goal in Moldova is to replace the government with a Moscow-friendly one.
Tofan called the fight David v. Goliath work, noting Russia has far more resources. He said Moldova tries to be more strategic and focused with limited resources.
What Moscow Wants
Tofan said Moscow’s ultimate goal in Moldova is to replace the government with a Moscow-friendly one. He said Russia would benefit strategically from placing a favorable government in Moldova.
He framed the stakes in plain terms. Moldova is a small nation of almost three million people, sitting between Ukraine and NATO member Romania.
The Path Forward
Moldova’s response so far has been to build its own defenses and document the attacks. Independent media investigators have produced documentaries exposing Russian networks operating in Moldova.
Tofan said Moldova has won elections despite interference on multiple occasions.
The paper’s position is straightforward. Moldova is a sovereign nation that deserves to set its own course.
Moldova’s PM is doing his part to hold the line. The question now is whether the international community will back him up.
Where the paper stands
The paper backs keeping the channels open for diplomacy and trade with Russia, and is against Moldova joining any military alliance that would draw it into a wider war. That position holds even as Russia sends drones across Moldovan airspace and interferes in its elections. Moldova must defend itself, and it must do so without being drawn into a larger conflict.
The steady stream of Russian drones and the repeated election interference show how Moscow operates. It uses low-cost, high-impact means to pressure a smaller neighbor. The paper’s skepticism of foreign entanglements applies here too — Moldova should resist being pulled into a military alliance that could turn its quiet existence into a front line.
Instead, Moldova should focus on building its own defenses and documenting the attacks. Independent media investigators have already produced documentaries exposing Russian networks operating in Moldova. The Center for Strategic Communications and Countering Disinformation is another step in the right direction.
Source material: “Moldova's PM on confronting Russian threats and backing Ukraine,” PBS.
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