The Moldovan Situation of People Fleeing From the Russo–Ukrainian War

Andrei Nastas

doi:10.55073/2026.1.185-201

Authors

Andrei Nastas PhD, Associate Professor, Ștefan cel Mare Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova; Cross-Border Faculty, Dunarea de Jos University of Galați, Romania https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2715-6577

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55073/2026.1.185-201

Keywords:

asylum, displaced person, international protection, Republic of Moldova, Russo–Ukrainian war, temporary protection

Abstract

In its 30 years of existence as an independent state, the Republic of Moldova has never faced the consequences of a humanitarian crisis like that caused by the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which began on 24 February 2024. In the first year following the outbreak of the conflict, approximately one million people from Ukraine crossed the border with the Republic of Moldova. No other country has dealt with such a high number of displaced people relative to its population. The events following the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine necessitated adaptation of the existing national framework and urgent adoption of special regulations to determine the legal status of individuals displaced by hostilities in Ukraine. Temporary structures were established to manage external financial assistance to meet the needs of people fleeing the Russo-Ukrainian war. This study aimed to identify the legal framework of the Republic of Moldova in the field of foreigner protection. To this end, we analysed data provided by the Moldovan authorities directly involved in managing the refugee crisis. Additionally, it was necessary to outline the measures undertaken by government authorities to integrate individuals from Ukraine. Where relevant, the study discussed issues within the national asylum system and proposed solutions to address these shortcomings to ensure the effective fulfilment of the state’s positive obligations to uphold the rights of those benefiting from protection.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Burian, A., Balan, O., Osmochescu, N., Arhiliuc, V., Sârcu, D., Gamurari, V., Ciugureanu, C., Dorul, O., Suceveanu, N., Țarălungă, V., Blașcu, O. (2021) Drept internaţional public. 5th edn. Chișinău: Centrul Poligrafic.

Cebotari, S. (2024) ‘Mpactul războiului din Ucraina asupra traficului ilicit de droguri’, Studia Universitatis Moldaviae, 8(178), pp. 171–179 [Online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.59295/sum8(178)2024_21 (Accessed: 2 January 2026).

Cebotari, S., Lungu, V. (2024) ‘Impactul războiului ruso-ucrainean asupra migrației ilegale ca formă a crimei organizate. Cazul Republicii Moldova’, Studia Universitatis Moldaviae, 8(178), pp. 180–190 [Online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.59295/sum8(178)2024_22 (Accessed: 2 January 2026).

Cernomoreţ, S. (2018) ‘Mijloace juridico-penale destinate asigurării protecției securității naționale’ in Cușnir, V. (ed.) Dezvoltarea cadrului juridic al Republicii Moldova în contextul necesităţilor de securitate şiasigurarea a parcursului european. Chişinău: Institutul de Cercetări Juridice, Politice și Sociologice, pp. 230–245.

Cheianu-Andrei, D. (2022) ‘Safety and protection of unaccompanied and separated children fleeing from war in Ukraine (case of the Republic of Moldova)’, Scientific Annals of the “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University, Iaşi. New Series Sociology and Social Work, 15(2), pp. 109–122 [Online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.47743/ASAS-2022-2-700 (Accessed: 2 January 2026).

Koroutchev, R. (2023) ‘Internal Displacement of the Ukrainians. Migration towards Moldova, Romania and Bulgaria: Desplazamiento Interno de los Ucranianos. Migración hacia Moldavia, Rumanía y Bulgaria’, Espacio Tiempo y Forma. Serie VI, Geografía, 16, pp. 43–65 [Online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5944/etfvi.16.2023.37182 (Accessed: 2 January 2026).

Legal Sources

Dispoziția Comisiei pentru Situaţii Excepţionale a Republicii Moldova nr. 1 din 24 februarie 2022 emisă în conformitate cu art. 22 din Legea nr. 212/2004 privind regimul stării de urgenţă, de asediu şi de război, art. 2 din Hotărârea Parlamentului nr. 41/2022 privind declararea stării de urgenţă, pct. 6, 7, 8 şi 9 din Regulamentul Comisiei pentru Situaţii Excepţionale a Republicii Moldova, aprobat prin Hotărârea Guvernului nr. 1340/2001. [Online]. Available at: https://social.gov.md/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/dispozitie_cse_1_24.02.2022_modif_d_3.5.6.7.8.10.pdf (Accessed: 14 December 2024).

Hotărârea Guvernului Republicii Moldova Nr. 21 din 18-01-2023 privind acordarea protecției temporare persoanelor strămutate din Ucraina [Online]. Available at: https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc_id=142062&lang=ro# (Accessed: 2 January 2026).

Hotărâre Nr. 285 din 14-05-2025 cu privire la aprobarea Programului național privind integrarea etapizată a străinilor, inclusiv a persoanelor strămutate în Republica Moldova, pentruperioada 2025-2027 Publicat : 29-05-2025 în Monitorul Oficial Nr. 261-264 art. 307 [Online]. Available at: https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc_id=148656&lang=ro (Accessed: 2 January 2026).

Lege Nr. 270 din 18-12-2008 privind azilul în Republica Moldova Publicat: 13-03-2009 în Monitorul Oficial Nr. 53-54 art. 145 [Online]. Available at: https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc_id=144620&lang=ro (Accessed: 10 December 2024).

Lege Nr. 274 din 27-12-2011 privind integrarea străinilor în Republica Moldova. Publicat : 31-12-2020 în Monitorul Oficial Nr. 372-382 art. 342 [Online]. Available at: https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc_id=136576&lang=ro (Accessed: 11 December 2024).

Report No. 1 of 18.05.2022 on the monitoring the observance of the rights of foreigners from Ukraine in the context of the state of emergency for the period from February 25 to April 30, 2022 [Online]. Available at: https://ombudsman.md/en/post-document/raportul-nr-1-3/ (Accessed: 03 December 2024).

Report on the monitoring of the respect for the rights of refugees, in the context of the armed conflict in Ukraine for the period January – June 2024. [Online]. Available at: https://ombudsman.md/en/post-document/report-on-the-monitoring-of-the-respect-for-the-rights-of-refugees-in-the-context-of-the-armed-conflict-in-ukraine-for-the-period-january-june-2024-2/ (Accessed: 14 December 2024).

States parties, including reservations and declarations, to the 1951 Refugee Convention (1951) [Online]. Available at: https://www.unhcr.org/media/states-parties-including-reservations-and-declarations-1951-refugee-convention (Accessed: 5 December 2024).

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (1951) ‘Convention relating to the status of refugees adopted by the United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Status of Refugees and Stateless Persons, held at Geneva from 2 to 25 July 1951’ UNHCR, 02 July. [Online]. Available at: https://www.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/2025-02/1951-refugee-convention-1967-protocol.pdf?_gl=1*xk4ecm*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQiA9t3KBhCQARIsAJOcR7wmMJFcQ5z7Cr9ayKFSdXlbUlOnLziULYohy2Gbo4TZun1Auq18-QIaAmacEALw_wcB&gbraid=0AAAAACyI4K_P35uF6Ng4hrnEBfs1dTcGv (Accessed: 2 January 2026).