Russia accuses Romania of military support for Ukraine via Moldova's Giurgiulești port; Bucharest calls it 'Stalinist propaganda'

Russian diplomat accuses Romania of direct military support for Ukraine

Iuri Pilipson, director of the Second European Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, told TASS in an interview published on Sunday, 9 August 2026, that Romania is "already involved in providing direct military-logistical support to the Kyiv regime." Pilipson made the claim while discussing Romania's acquisition of the operator of the Giurgiulești International Free Port in Moldova, which he said has been transformed "into a transit node for delivering various goods to Ukraine, including those destined for the Ukrainian armed forces." He said the situation "raises questions about the true purposes of using the Giurgiulești port in the near future."

The port, located on the Danube near Moldova's borders with Romania and Ukraine, handles over 70% of Moldova's waterborne imports and exports. In April 2026, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) sold its 100% stake in ICS Danube Logistics, the port's operator, to the Constanța Maritime Ports Administration. Romania described the acquisition as "a strategic investment for our country with regional and European stakes" and committed to long-term investments to increase port capacity and modernize infrastructure. Then-Transport Minister Ciprian Șerban said in February 2026 that the port would support Ukraine's reconstruction by ensuring safe alternative routes.

Romanian Foreign Ministry calls Russian claims "Stalinist propaganda"

Romania's Foreign Ministry responded on Monday, 10 August, with spokesperson Andrei Țărnea dismissing the Russian statements as "Stalinist propaganda."

Any Russian official speaking about the national identity of a country finds himself in an obvious contradiction. While dispensing this kind of Stalinist propaganda, Russia is engaged in a brutal war of conquest.

Țărnea accused Russia of killing civilians daily while denying the sovereignty and national identity of a neighbor, and referenced the forced Russification policies of Tsarist Russia and the Soviet Union. He said national identities and aspirations do not answer to Moscow's demands, whether on language or on economic and investment decisions.

The times when Moscow chose for these nations by force or imposed what to do have passed. War and Russian propaganda are two faces of the same desire for control by Moscow.

Pilipson also addressed Romanian-Moldovan relations, citing 2024 census data showing that 76.7% of Moldovan citizens declared themselves Moldovan and only 8.0% Romanian. He said promoting the unification theme in Moldova's public space was part of a campaign to influence public opinion.

Russia warns of response to any provocation against Transnistria

In a separate statement, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told TASS that Moscow would consider any armed provocation by Ukraine and Moldova against the breakaway region of Transnistria as an attack on Russia, and would use "all available means" to protect Russian citizens there. Over 200,000 Russian passport holders live in Transnistria, where Russian troops and police are stationed illegally along with large weapons and ammunition depots.

Galuzin assessed the risks of armed provocations as "reduced" but said they could not be "completely excluded."

We will consider such reckless and irresponsible actions, in accordance with international law, as an attack on Russia and will not leave them without a firm and prompt response.

Neither Moldova nor Ukraine has announced plans for military intervention in Transnistria. The region, which declared independence from Moldova in the 1990s, is in a deep economic crisis after Moscow reduced budget transfers to Tiraspol, and has redirected most of its exports to EU member states.