Sandu urged Finland to be prepared for Russian propaganda
During her visit to Finland, Moldovan President Maia Sandu urged people not to underestimate Russian propaganda. According to her, Russia is increasingly using new technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, and is also exploiting real problems and conflicts within other countries.
Maia Sandu considers information influence to be one of the most serious forms of Russian interference. The Moldovan president made this statement during a working visit to Finland on October 2. Her remarks were quoted by the Finnish broadcaster Yle. According to Sandu, it is becoming easier for Russia to spread its messages thanks to new artificial intelligence technologies. She cited examples of narratives that, in her opinion, Russian propaganda might promote in other countries. “Your country isn’t strong enough to protect you, or local politicians aren’t acting in your country’s best interests,” Sandu said, describing one of the possible messages.
At the same time, the Moldovan president emphasized that modern Russian propaganda does not always explicitly tout Russia’s advantages or criticize the West. According to her, it much more often attempts to exploit existing divisions within society. “The point isn’t necessarily to impose the idea that Russia is good and the West is bad. It’s about exploiting the divisions that already exist within the country,” Sandu explained.
That is precisely why, in her view, Russia’s influence is sometimes hard to detect. Propaganda may not be based on fabricated problems, but on people’s real experiences. These issues can then be used to spread messages that serve Russia’s interests. Sandu cited the example of Moldova. According to her, Russia has been actively spreading materials there that are directed against the European Union. Moldova applied for EU membership in March 2022, after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine had already begun.
The president also linked this information influence to the broader security situation in the region. She noted that Russian drones have repeatedly entered Moldovan airspace. Sandu stated that eight such incidents were recorded in the past week alone. In a separate statement following her meeting with the President of Finland, she said that, in total, Russian drones have entered Moldova’s airspace more than 45 times since the beginning of the year. “The war is approaching our territory,” Sandu said, referring to the consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine for Moldova. She also stated that Russia is using drones and disinformation campaigns to intimidate Moldova and force it to abandon its support for Ukraine and its European course.
Sandu’s visit to Finland took place at the invitation of President Alexander Stubb. In Helsinki, they discussed Ukraine’s security and stability in the region after the war ends. Sandu and Stubb also participated in the opening of the Helsinki Security Forum, organized by the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. The forum addressed Ukraine’s security, the situation in the region, and broader challenges facing European countries.
The President of Moldova emphasized that the situation in Ukraine directly affects her country. According to her, the fates of neighboring states are intertwined, and Moldova’s security depends to a large extent on what is happening in Ukraine. “Peace prevails in Moldova thanks to the courage of Ukrainians and Ukraine’s resilience,” Sandu said.
During her visit to Finland, Sandu also spoke about strengthening Moldova itself. She said the country is working to develop its air defense, modernize its military, and counter disinformation and cyberattacks. She singled out the protection of elections from external interference as a separate priority. This was reported by Yle.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu condemned the Russian attack on the building of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and civilian targets in Kyiv. She emphasized the deliberate nature of the terror directed against the people of Ukraine, the country’s scientific community, and its economy.
