Op-ed by Daniel Vodă, Associate Senior Expert for Foreign Affairs and Strategic Communication, The Institute for European Policies and Reforms
Four years have passed since Ukraine began resisting a war of aggression launched by the Russian Federation. More than 1,460 days of explosions, air-raid sirens, destruction and shattered lives in our neighbouring country. Four years in which the word “peace” has been spoken more often than ever, including here at home. But peace does not mean a temporary silence of weapons. A just peace means security, justice, and rules that are respected.
Russia’s unjust war of aggression has had a devastating impact on civilians, especially children and women. By 31 December 2025, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine had confirmed at least 55,600 civilian casualties: nearly 15,000 people killed and over 40,000 injured, including 175 journalists who became victims of the war. The real figures are most likely far higher. This is the equivalent of the combined population of the Moldovan cities of Soroca, Orhei and Cahul – people who are no longer here because of the horrors of this war. Behind every number lies a broken life.
Missiles, drones and munitions strike not only military targets, but homes, schools and hospitals. At the beginning of this year, we felt the consequences ourselves, when large parts of our country were left without electricity for several hours. In Ukraine, large and small cities alike are subjected to daily missile attacks. The entire civilian energy infrastructure has been severely damaged by targeted Russian bombardments. In this context, the solidarity shown by the authorities in Chişinău deserves recognition: generators, transformers, conductors and cables have been delivered. Medical equipment, emergency vehicles, food products and essential goods are also being sent.
By the end of last year, 704 churches had been destroyed or damaged, around 200 of them completely. Over 4,100 educational institutions and more than 2,500 medical facilities have been damaged or destroyed. Drones and missiles terrorise the population, block access to schools and hospitals, and endanger rescuers and workers trying to repair and rebuild critical infrastructure. This is not “collateral damage”. It is the deliberate destruction of people.
The humanitarian crisis is one of the most severe Europe has faced in recent decades. In 2026 alone, an estimated 10.8 million people in Ukraine will require humanitarian assistance. Almost six million Ukrainians have sought refuge abroad, while 3.7 million are internally displaced. More than one third of Ukrainian children – 2,589,900 – remain displaced, including over 1.7 million outside the country. UNICEF reports that more than 3,200 childrenhave been killed or injured in armed attacks. This is a crime against humanity.
Moldova has not been spared the consequences of the conflict either. Over these years, authorities have reported the discovery of 13 drone fragments or drones in 12 localities across our territory. War does not respect borders, even when it is not formally declared. Today, around 148,000 Ukrainian refugees are living in Moldova, almost 6% of the country’s population. Some 86,500 benefit from temporary protection, with access to work, education and healthcare. Local communities, volunteers and authorities have demonstrated solidarity and humanity. This is one of the strongest proofs that European values are not just declarations for Moldovan citizens – they are a reflection of our shared humanity.
A lasting peace for Ukraine cannot be built by ignoring international law, the protection of civilians, and accountability for war crimes. Without real security guarantees for Ukraine and for Europe as a whole, without justice for those responsible, peace will remain fragile and dangerous. The way this war ends will define the future of Europe, including the future of the Republic of Moldova.
This message has been expressed in one voice by over 100 civil society organisations from the Republic of Moldova and the diaspora, who have signed the joint declaration calling for a just and lasting peace. Until 28 February inclusive, the joint declaration remains open to any civil society organisation wishing to join. Moldova stands for a just peace.
This editorial has spoken through figures and statistics: people affected, power plants destroyed, cities plunged into darkness. But Russia’s war in Ukraine does not end in reports. It is relived every evening, when a child falls asleep fully clothed in the cold, unsure whether there will be electricity in the morning. Or in the minds of those who attempt to justify it. If this seems “manageable” to us, then the problem is no longer only the aggressor. It is the threshold of our own humanity.
The war in Ukraine is not a test for Ukraine. The Ukrainian people have already passed the test of resilience. This war is a test for all of us:
– whether we still believe borders matter;
– whether we still believe children’s lives have equal value everywhere;
– whether we still believe international law is not optional.
And failed tests, just like at school, do not promote you to the next step. They are repeated. Closer to home. If blatant violations of international law go unpunished, they can be repeated at any time. It is a grim symbolism that this war has surpassed the scale of the Second World War. It should serve as a signal for Russian society to understand the suffering this conflict brings upon its own citizens, and to focus on developing the country at home, not through a war that inflicts pain on the Ukrainian people.
Faced with this war, our choice here and now is one of responsibility. A just peace for Ukraine means security for the Republic of Moldova as well. Even if we do not hear the thunder of weapons, we live daily in a cognitive war. That is why we have a duty to remain lucid, calm, informed and united – to tell the truth and to defend our values. Because a just peace for Ukraine is also peace for the Republic of Moldova. And that peace begins with the resilience of each and every one of us.
Daniel Vodă is an Associate Senior Expert for Foreign Affairs and Strategic Communication, The Institute for European Policies and Reforms and served previously as Spokesperson of the Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.