Moldova ready to take in new wave of Ukrainian refugees in winter, Sandu says

President Maia Sandu of Moldova announced on October 8 that her country is prepared to accept additional Ukrainian refugees during the upcoming winter if Russia launches further humanitarian crises through targeted mass attacks. Since the beginning of the war in 2022, over one million Ukrainians have fled to Moldova, with around 100,000 settling there.

Speaking at the Moldova Security Forum in Chisinau, Sandu emphasized Moldova's readiness to accommodate as many people as required for safety, following Russia's attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure last winter, which resulted in prolonged blackouts and heating outages due to sub-zero temperatures. Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi noted that Ukraine has improved its preparedness for the upcoming winter but cautioned that Russia has bolstered its capabilities by amassing jet-powered drones and missiles.

Dorin Recean, Moldova's former Prime Minister and current Presidential Special Envoy, mentioned that Moldova is also preparing logistics-wise for the winter, as Moldova and Ukraine's energy grids are interconnected. Sandu cautioned that Russia's war is dangerously approaching Moldova after Russian Banderol missiles and drones struck Moldova during a nighttime attack on Ukraine on October 3.

In response to the escalating threat, Moldova announced on October 7 its plans to construct protective shelters at border crossings with Ukraine, where border guards and nearby residents can seek refuge during drone incursions.