Moldova marks 35th independence anniversary with military parade
Moldova staged a major military parade in central Chișinău on Thursday to mark 35 years of independence, showcasing modernized defense equipment and multinational allied contingents amid escalating regional security threats.
President Maia Sandu and Romanian President Nicușor Dan joined thousands of spectators in the Great National Assembly Square as more than 2,000 security personnel and 100 combat vehicles marched through the capital. Honor guards from nine partner nations, including the United States, France, Germany, and Ukraine, took part in the procession alongside 150 veterans of Moldova’s 1992 independence war.
The motorized column featured armored personnel carriers, artillery units, and newly acquired airspace monitoring equipment alongside drone detection and interception systems. Ion Rotaru, head of the Defense Ministry’s policy and planning directorate, said the upgraded capabilities reflect Moldova’s push to build resilience against hybrid warfare, cyberattacks, and airspace violations.
“The parade’s core message is simple: Moldova is a free state capable of defending its sovereignty and citizens,” Rotaru said during a live interview on public broadcaster Moldova 1. “National defense is primarily our own responsibility, while international partnerships reinforce our capacity to secure a stable environment.”
The celebrations in the capital will conclude with an evening address in the central square, where President Sandu will be joined on stage by Romanian President Dan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
