Moldova President Maia Sandu warns of Russian propaganda and cognitive warfare

President Maia Sandu cautioned that Russian propaganda and an information war pose a serious threat to democratic societies. She said the Kremlin continues to adapt its influence tactics despite setbacks, noting that “Propaganda rusă reușește să cucerească mințile oamenilor. Războiul cognitiv este foarte periculos.” Sandu highlighted the need to monitor elections in other countries, such as the upcoming vote in Armenia, as possible testing grounds for Moscow’s methods. She warned that the “cognitive war” is harder to detect than conventional threats and cited online reactions to recent Russian drone incidents as evidence of propaganda’s impact. Sandu called for strengthening informational resilience among citizens.

The president stressed that, while Russia’s armed forces face difficulties on the Ukrainian front, its disinformation campaigns remain active and can shape public perception across the region.