INSIDE MOLDOVA Russian drones put Moldova’s security at risk | Government moves ahead with EU reforms and new tax measures | Major electronics businesses targeted in money laundering scheme

Moldova faced renewed security concerns this week as Russian drones came increasingly close to the country’s borders. A Moldovan citizen was injured in a drone attack near the Tudora–Starokazacie border crossing, while another drone crossed Moldovan airspace, disrupted seven civilian flights and delayed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s departure from Chișinău.

At home, the government approved new tax measures affecting cross-border online purchases and the HoReCa sector and moved ahead with the restructuring of Moldova’s state railway company. Law enforcement authorities also searched companies affiliated with businessman Arcadie Topalo, whose businesses operate the Ultra, Darwin and Enter retail chains, in a tax evasion and money laundering investigation. Separately, a court ordered the confiscation of assets worth 9.6 million lei in an abuse-of-office case and a ZdG investigation examined millions of lei spent annually on state-owned recreation facilities.

Moldova discusses next steps toward EU accession as Hadja Lahbib visits Chișinău

Prime Minister Vasile Tofan held a phone conversation with European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos to discuss Moldova’s next steps toward EU accession and the continuation of reforms aimed at bringing the country closer to European standards. The officials also discussed preparations for the Moldova–European Union Association Council meeting scheduled for October 5.

Kos welcomed Moldova’s progress in implementing European reforms and informed Tofan that the process of unlocking the next payment under the EU Growth Plan for Moldova, intended to support the country’s investment agenda, was in its final stage.

Separately, European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib made her first official visit to Moldova, meeting President Maia Sandu, Prime Minister Vasile Tofan and other government officials.

In an interview with ZdG, Lahbib discussed the crises Moldova has faced in recent years and how the country is viewed in Brussels. She described Moldova as a country choosing “reforms and European cooperation over vulnerability and isolation” and stressed that, when it comes to equality in the European integration process, “there is no room for negotiation.”

Russian drones cross Moldova as war in Ukraine moves closer to the country’s borders

Russia’s war in Ukraine came increasingly close to Moldova’s borders this week. During the night of September 8–9, two people, including a Moldovan citizen, were injured following a drone attack near the Tudora–Starokazacie border crossing. Two Ukrainian citizens were killed. According to Moldova’s Border Police, two other drones fell on Ukrainian territory near the crossing, which was temporarily closed for several hours.

In a separate incident this week, a drone entered Moldova’s airspace from Ukraine and crossed the country from east to west, passing near Chișinău before entering Romania. It later returned to Moldovan territory and crashed in a sunflower field near Mihăilenii Vechi, Rîșcani district, causing fires. President Maia Sandu, Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu and Prime Minister Vasile Tofan condemned the incidents and warned about the security risks posed by Russia’s war in Ukraine. Tofan said that 17 drones had entered Moldovan territory in August alone.

The unauthorized drone flight also affected seven civilian flights. Moldovan airspace was temporarily closed on September 8, delaying three departures and four arrivals. Among the affected aircraft was the plane carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was preparing to fly from Chișinău to Oslo. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre subsequently said Zelensky’s aircraft had been “close to being hit” by a drone during departure. Moldovan authorities said the Ukrainian president’s plane, like the other affected aircraft, departed later than scheduled because of the Russian drone.

Government approves new tax rules and restructuring of Moldova’s railway system

From October 1, 2026, goods purchased through distance sales and imported into Moldova with a value of up to 150 euros per parcel will be subject to a special VAT regime and a 12-lei handling fee for each package. Authorities say the measure is intended to eliminate what they describe as an unjustified competitive advantage enjoyed by cross-border e-commerce over local retailers.

VAT for the HoReCa sector will also increase from 8% to 12%, while a temporary 18% tax rate on income from financial and insurance activities will be introduced for 2027. The measures are included in the draft fiscal and customs policy for 2027 approved by the government.

Separately, the government decided that the State Enterprise “Railway of Moldova” will be reorganized by December 31, 2026. The railway system will be divided into two distinct components: one responsible for passenger and freight transportation and another responsible for railway infrastructure.

The restructuring began earlier this year with the creation of the joint-stock company “Railway of Moldova – Passengers and Freight.” The next stage will involve creating “CFM Infra,” which will take over all rights, obligations and debts of the former state enterprise, including liabilities to the state budget, insurance obligations and state-guaranteed external loans.

Parliament reshuffles key committees

Parliament approved several changes to its committees at the request of the PAS parliamentary faction. Marcel Spatari, who previously headed the European Integration Committee, took over the Economy, Budget and Finance Committee, while Adrian Băluțel was appointed chair of the European Integration Committee.

Iurie Levinschi was appointed deputy chair of the Agriculture and Food Industry Committee, Valeriu Robu became its secretary and Victor Mătrăgună joined the committee. Ion Groza was appointed deputy chair of the Foreign Policy Committee, while Roman Roșca became a member.

Separately, MP and former prosecutor general Alexandr Stoianoglo announced that he will run as an independent candidate for governor, or bashkan, of the Gagauz autonomous region in the November 15 election. Stoianoglo said he would suspend his activity as an MP during the campaign but would not resign his parliamentary mandate.

Originally from Comrat, Stoianoglo served as Gagauzia’s prosecutor between 1995 and 2001. He previously ran for governor in 2015, receiving 3,174 votes, or 4.98%. In Moldova’s 2024 presidential election, he ran as the candidate backed by the Party of Socialists and received 44.59% in the second round. In Gagauzia, 97.4% of participating voters backed Stoianoglo.

Searches target companies behind Ultra, Darwin and Enter while state moves to confiscate assets in separate case

Companies affiliated with businessman Arcadie Topalo, one of Moldova’s major players in the import and retail of electronics and household appliances, were targeted in searches carried out by the State Tax Service and the Prosecutor’s Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases. The searches were conducted as part of a criminal investigation into alleged tax evasion and money laundering.

Companies associated with Topalo operate the Ultra, Darwin and Enter electronics and household appliance stores. According to information obtained by ZdG, Topalo reportedly left Moldova before the searches took place. In 2016, he was detained for similar offenses. In 2017, after admitting guilt and after prosecutors modified the initial charges, a court sentenced him to five years in prison, with the sentence suspended for a one-year probation period.

In a separate criminal case, eight properties worth approximately 9.6 million lei will be confiscated by the state following an abuse-of-office conviction. The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office described the case as particularly important for asset-recovery practice because the properties were officially registered in the names of third parties, while the court established that the convicted individual was their actual beneficiary.

ZdG identified the public official as Dumitru Chițu, who worked in the cadastral field and used his position to facilitate the illegal transfer and registration of land belonging to the municipality of Chișinău. He was sentenced to five years in prison in May 2025. In June 2026, the execution of his final five-year prison sentence was conditionally suspended for a three-year probation period.

ZdG investigated how the state spends millions on recreation facilities

Separately, a ZdG investigation examined Moldova’s network of state-owned recreation facilities, many inherited from the Soviet period and still managed by ministries, state enterprises and other public institutions. Some are closed, while the state continues to spend millions of lei maintaining others despite declining numbers of visitors.

Some authorities themselves have described the continued management of such facilities as an unacceptable “anomaly” or said that allocating public funds to them is unjustified. Institutions from which ZdG obtained information spend approximately 15 million lei annually on maintaining these facilities. According to the Public Property Agency, central authorities currently manage 16 state-owned recreation sites.

Eduard Timofei, director of Penitentiary No. 9 – Pruncul, was released from detention and placed under house arrest despite prosecutors requesting that his pre-trial detention be extended for another 30 days.

The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the decision to ZdG. Timofei was detained on July 8 in a criminal case involving allegations of corruption, rape and sexual harassment and was subsequently placed in pre-trial detention for 30 days. He had headed Penitentiary No. 9 – Pruncul since May 2018.