After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moldova supported Ukraine and accepted thousands of Ukrainian refugees. However, the country itself found itself in a difficult situation [because] pro-Russian forces in the country are trying to discredit Moldova's European choice, and the unresolved conflict in Transnistria also reminded of itself.
Brigadier General, Minister of Defense of the Republic of Moldova (2009-2014) Vitalie Marinuța and ex-head of intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Moldova Yuri Briceag visited the online.ua studio as part of the delegation of the Association of Veterans and Reservists of the Republic of Moldova.
Online.ua correspondent Ivan Hrynevych asked them about the mood among Moldova's citizens and military, whether the country is preparing for a possible invasion, and what issues cannot be neglected for the sake of preserving the independence of the Republic of Moldova.
How citizens of Moldova feel about the full-scale invasion of Russia in Ukraine
We see Moldova's diplomatic support in the issue of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But we are interested in the mood of the citizens. Yuriy, how did the opinion of the citizens of Moldova change, starting from February 24, 2022 and until today, regarding aggression from Russia?
YB: Let's start with the fact that before Maia Sandu took office, the president of the Republic of Moldova was the pro-Russian Igor Dodon.
Accordingly, the entire policy of the Republic of Moldova at the official level was based on the fact that Russia is our elder brother; we should focus on Russia.
Unfortunately, at that time, the majority of citizens of the Republic of Moldova saw themselves as part of some union, which was then the Soviet Union, part of the CIS [Commonwealth of Independent States - Ed.], but under the leadership of Russia.
After February 24, when Russia treacherously attacked the sovereign state of Ukraine, everything changed.
Firstly, the Republic of Moldova faced the problem of many Ukrainian refugees who came to us. We saw the real face of our country's neighbour Russia and found out what is really happening on the fronts and on the territory of Ukraine. It is very sad.
We have seen that the attitude of the residents of the Republic of Moldova is changing every day, as the escalation is intensifying on the territory of Ukraine.
Today, the majority of citizens of the Republic of Moldova see the atrocities committed by Russia on the territory of the sovereign state of Ukraine.
Vitalie, what attitudes prevail among the military? Perhaps they differ from the opinion of citizens.
VM: Here we need to talk not only about military structures and how they relate to this war. This is something that we experienced in 1992 and with which we have been living for 30 years. And what we would like to see end here in Ukraine as soon as possible and peace to come. But not such a peace with the “transnistriazation” [from the name of Transnistria region - Ed.] of Ukraine (there is such a concept when Russia insists on some kind of peace that is beneficial to them).
Therefore, our military knows what it is, and they support Ukraine in that it fights for every piece of land, for every person, for every mouthful of freedom.
You know, a good example can be given here: although we are a small country, we are the country that, after the start of the war, accepted the most refugees per capita of all neighbouring countries of Ukraine.
This phenomenon was only in our country: most of these refugees are not in state places for refugees, not in areas maintained by international organizations, but do you know where they are? [They are] in families.
Ukrainians were accepted by their families. I had 5 or 6 families, then they left, and Yuri had them, and my friends. This is the discovery of our people and shows how the army behaves, how the state behaves, and of course, how the government behaves.
We want to say thank you for making the right choice three years ago when we elected President Maya Sandu.
Moldova is in an information war with Russia
In early December 2022, the Institute of Public Policy published a survey that showed that 26% of Moldavian people find it difficult to answer what is happening in Ukraine, 17.1% believe that Russia protects the rights of the [terroristic organizations] “LPR” and “DPR”, and 15.1% believes that Russia is fighting Nazism in Ukraine. One may get the impression that the citizens of Moldova do not understand that if the Ukrainian troops did not hold out, then Russia did not stop. Why are there such opinions among the citizens of Moldova, and what can be done about it?
YB: If we talk about the social poll, then it really was like that. And this was shown by the elections in 2019 and 2020. That is, our population is divided exactly in half: 50% - for European integration, 50% - see themselves in the future as part of or in an alliance with Russia.
But everything changed after this war started. People really see what trouble Russia caused when it invaded the territory of Ukraine.
Unfortunately, no one talks about it in our country, but we should say more often that, thanks to Ukraine, at home, in the Republic of Moldova, everything is calm, and the war is being fought nearby.
Unfortunately, the mass media did not properly cover what was happening in Ukraine, and this somehow contributed to the fact that people simply did not think and did not feel that the war had come to our home.
For example, my wife's relatives live in Ukraine, in the Chernivtsi region. I was with them, I saw the consequences of this terrible war. Children cry at night. My older children were volunteering when the refugee influx began. They told about terrible cases and the terrible pain of children taken from the territories occupied by Russia.
Regarding “DPR” and “LPR”, we can say that we have such an example: this is Transnistria.
Ukraine made the proper conclusion [that] it is impossible to negotiate with the aggressor in any form. No one from the Ukrainian side has gone to what we call the Transnistrian conflict, which has been going on for 30 years.
VM: In the 21st century, war is not conducted as it was in the past. Although we see the same elements of destruction, the same elements that were used by the Nazis, the fascists - striking on critical or civilian objects.
We are in a full-scale information war. This information air is completely stuffed with dozens of channels with Russian propaganda.
How Moldova fights against Russian propaganda
Last summer, Moldavian journalist Anata Algut told how the Federal Agency “Rossotrudnichestvo” [Russian Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation - Ed.] tried to promote its propaganda on social networks. What main narratives of Russian propaganda can still be observed in Moldova? Why are they still working?
VM: Culture, economy, and politics have always been and will be weapons for Russia. Everything can be a weapon for them.
We will have local elections in November 2023, and parliamentary elections next year. With this point of view, they have already started funding their pro-Russian parties and rousing them to action.
Pro-Russian non-governmental organizations, various cultural funds, and funds for cooperation with Russia have definitely started to work actively.
As we have already said, the information field. I live near Chișinău, a village right on the Dniester River, which is near Transnistria. A car ride to Chișinău takes 35–40 minutes. Any radio channel that I would put on, Sputnik, or a copy of Sputnik, or Russian music, their propaganda would be played between the music.
Maya Sandu noted that one of the important issues is the fight against disinformation. How is the struggle against disinformation in Moldova?
YB: The first thing they [the Moldova power - Ed.] did was close six pro-Russian channels. They really gave some misinformation.
At the same time, emphasis should be placed on providing more objective information about what is happening on the battlefields in Ukraine. And don't be afraid to talk about it.
It is necessary to call the aggressor an aggressor and show the whole world that we are not somewhere in another universe, but we are nearby, we have common borders, and we are more decisive in Russia's fight against Ukraine. And in this case against Moldova. This is hybrid warfare.
Our leadership has success, but it is still possible to improve. In this regard, our state structures, on the one hand, and on the other hand, should communicate more often, exchange information and be more open because we have to be objective.
If today the Ukrainian people, Ukraine, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine did not have these forces, the ability to deter the enemy, we would be dancing to Russian songs and Russian tanks would be driving along the Prut. These are not horror stories; these are facts.
How does Russia blackmail Moldova?
When it comes to struggling against disinformation, usually the aggressor starts threatening or blackmailing. Such a lever in Russia is the issue of gas. “Gazprom” is already starting to blackmail the country by reducing supplies. And what other levers can the Kremlin use or is it already using, and what actions can Moldova take for the sake of independence in these matters?
VM: There was cheap gas from Russia. At a time when European states thought that it was possible to use other means for energy resources, such as green energy, we bought electricity from separatists from Transnistria and gas from Russia.
And in the end, when we supported Ukraine, the free world, and expressed our desire as a country to be a part of the democratic Euro-Atlantic bloc, that's when we were pressured.
"Gazprom" was not just a company; it was used as a weapon of pressure on political decisions and the development course of the Republic of Moldova.
Now the government of the Republic of Moldova got away with it, not in the best way, with great losses for the population. But thanks to the help of Ukraine, we bought gas resources and deposited them in Ukraine.
We have already proven that we can buy gas at the astronomical prices that Gazprom gives us, but be free on the international foreign market.
We still have to solve the issue of supplying electricity, from Romania, from the European Union, because we received 99% of our electricity resources from Kuchurgan [a border Ukrainian village near Moldova - Ed.], and some from Ukraine.
Accordingly, Ukraine cannot, purely rationally, supply the resources that we previously contracted. Therefore, it is a big problem for us.
I hope that we will continue to take steps in this sense and that there will be no corruption. Because, unfortunately, we haven't gotten rid of it yet.
I want to advise young people to fight corruption, not to allow it even at the minor level because it destroys your future, your children's future and your defence potential.
The second part of the interview is at the link.
