Firefighters from Moldova’s Ground Forest Fire Fighting Team (GFFFV-MD) have returned home following a pre-positioning mission in the Hellenic Republic, where they were deployed from July 14 to August 15, 2026 under the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism. On August 17, the team was welcomed and honored at a dedicated ceremony.
During the month-long mission, the Moldovan firefighters took part in 10 operational interventions and conducted daily monitoring activities under the coordination of the Hellenic Fire Corps. One of the most recent and challenging operations took place on August 13 – 14 in Siviri, in the Municipality of Kassandra, in the Halkidiki region. The Moldovan team worked continuously to contain and extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading to populated and other vulnerable areas.
This year marks the fourth mission of Moldovan firefighters to Greece in support of the Greek authorities in combating wildfires and the third time Moldova has participated as a full member of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism. During the 2026 wildfire season, the European Union mobilized 777 firefighters from 14 countries, pre-positioning teams across several regions of southern Europe ahead of the peak wildfire period.
The mission once again demonstrated the ability of Moldovan firefighters to operate effectively in demanding conditions alongside international teams. The professionalism, solidarity, and operational experience gained through these 10 interventions will help strengthen Moldova’s national emergency response capacities and further reinforce the country’s role as an active and reliable partner in European civil protection cooperation.
