---
title: "Igor Grosu denies drone production for Ukraine and avoids discussing troop increases"
url: https://moldova1.md/p/87166/igor-grosu-denies-drone-production-for-ukraine-and-avoids-discussing-troop-increases
published: 2026-10-08T13:01:27Z
language: en
author: "Elena Munteanu"
section: "Political"
source: moldova1.md
---

# Igor Grosu denies drone production for Ukraine and avoids discussing troop increases

> The MPs, meeting in a closed session on October 8, voted on a new structure for the Armed Forces. Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu says the changes will not affect the country's citizens.

![](https://storage.moldova1.md/images/5cca22ad-1561-427a-a98b-9eb0db5f77bc.jpg)

The MPs, meeting in a closed session on October 8, voted on a new structure for the Armed Forces. Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu says the changes will not affect the country's citizens.

"It is about adapting the structure of the Armed Forces to current realities. (...) It concerns all the transformations we are undergoing—especially in the current regional context—and adapting to new realities. I cannot tell you anything more than that," Grosu stated at the end of the session.

The Speaker of Parliament clarified that the approved bill does not concern the domestic production of defense systems, including air defense systems. He said a separate document, currently being drafted by the Government, will regulate this matter. Grosu also denied claims that the Republic of Moldova intends to manufacture drones for Ukraine.

"That is not true. They are for us. We need them—specifically dual-use drones that can be utilized in emergency situations, by the General Inspectorate for Emergencies (IGSU), or in agriculture," he said.

**Grosu on the Defense Minister's absence**

When asked about the absence of Defense Minister Anatolie Nosatîi from the session, Igor Grosu stated that he was unaware of the reasons. Regarding the Minister's statements about increasing security investments, the Speaker noted that the governing administration made this commitment.

"It is our commitment to reach a certain percentage of GDP. This was announced quite some time ago; there is nothing new about it," the Speaker said.

At the same time, he declined to comment on statements regarding increasing the National Army's personnel strength to 8,500 troops. *"You won't catch me out on anything [laughs]. (...) Believe me, if I could tell you, I would, but I can't,"* Grosu noted.

**Who voted for the new Armed Forces structure**

MPs from the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), Our Party, and unaffiliated MPs supported the draft for the new Armed Forces structure. Socialist and Communist MPs did not vote. Nor did "Democracy at Home"—or so I believe—said Igor Grosu.

When asked about the document's confidentiality—given the frequent trips some MPs make to Moscow—the Speaker of Parliament warned of the potential criminal liability involved in leaking such information.

At the same time, he added that *"we should be less concerned with whether or not it bothers those in the Russian Federation."*

*"We must look after and focus on our own security."* — "Which is threatened by the Russian Federation?" (journalists' comment). — *"Obviously. And we must do everything possible to protect our country as best we can—by forging partnerships and gaining access to necessary equipment,"* stated Igor Grosu, noting that all countries in the region are concerned with both their own security and collective security.

*"And yes, sometimes there are priorities—real priorities. For instance, we are awaiting the second French radar, so that the second element of the monitoring system can be installed,"* the Speaker of Parliament said.

**Dinu Plîngău: Holding the meeting behind closed doors is justified**

MP Dinu Plîngău, chair of the parliamentary inquiry commission examining the operations of certain state-owned enterprises, stated after the closed-door parliamentary session that keeping the proceedings confidential was justified.

When asked about claims that the ruling party was preparing the country for war, Plîngău said that MPs should exercise great responsibility when making public statements and consider the country and the population.

*"Under the Law on State Secrets and other regulations, such meetings must be held behind closed doors. Consequently, the regulatory framework was observed. (...) Every MP present at today's meeting signed confidentiality agreements and is legally bound not to disclose any information regarding the subject discussed,"* said Dinu Plîngău.

**Vasile Costiuc: They discussed "mayonnaise"**

Vasile Costiuc, leader of the "Democrația Acasă" (Democracy at Home) party, said that the meeting focused on Russian "mayonnaise," which *“will likely be countered in the near future.”* "We will replace the mayonnaise coming from the Russian Federation. Currently, 62% of the mayonnaise on store shelves comes from the Russian Federation, and Moldovans consume mayonnaise. That is all I can tell you. And there have been impassioned speeches declaring—'no more Russian mayonnaise; we are replacing it with Moldovan mayonnaise,'" stated Costiuc.

**Andrei Curăraru: Beyond quality, quantity is also needed**

Security expert Andrei Curăraru says that the Republic of Moldova should primarily strengthen its air defense, given the increase in unauthorized overflights of its national airspace.

"We are facing these—practically daily—overflights of our sovereign airspace; ultimately, they hinder the normal functioning of the Moldovan state and can pose real risks to civilian life and beyond. At the same time, we realize there is a need for a more profound reform that would eventually bring the Republic of Moldova to the level of spending one percent of its GDP on national defense," Curăraru told Radio Moldova.

The expert highlighted the need for an integrated vision regarding the development of the defense sector—one that details, among other things, cooperation with neighbors to prevent security risks. In the expert's view, increasing the size of the National Army would be effective, provided it includes recruitment in specific areas. "We are talking here about cyber defense, air defense, and personnel who possess the experience and capabilities required for a 21st-century army. We understand that the Republic of Moldova’s military is tiny compared to other European armies, but we need quantity, not just quality. This must be the foundation of any measure to increase troop numbers," stated Andrei Curăraru.

The expert added that society would view incidents endangering people's lives and well-being as far more significant than other security-related issues, and that without an integrated air defence system, the Republic of Moldova cannot continue to develop as a sovereign, territorially intact state.