The USAR Moldova's search-rescue team participates in the 20th Civil Emergency Management Exercise, organized by the Euro-Atlantic Coordination Center for NATO's disasters in Montana, Bulgaria
between 7 and 12 September 2025, the Usar (Urban Search and Rescue team - the urban search and rescue team) participates in one of the largest international emergency management - "Bulgaria 2025". The exercise is organized by the General Directorate of Anti-Winging Safety and Civil Protection within the MIA of Bulgaria, in partnership with the Euro-Atlantic Coordination Center (EADCC) of NATO.
The representation of the Republic of Moldova in this civil exercise is in accordance with the individual program of the Partnership of the Republic of Moldova-NATO for the years 2025-2028, approved by the Government Decision no. 33/2025.
At the same time, participation in this exercise comes in continuation of a series of training and preparations of the USAR Moldova team in the process of international cerification according to the standards (Internal Search and Rescue Advisory Group). The final certification exterine is planned in the Republic of Moldova in 2027. We remind that the members of the USAR Moldova team actively participated in the liquidation of the consequences of the earthquake in southeast Turkey in 2023.
The Republic of Moldova is represented by 18 employees of the IGSU of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and 2 doctors from the MIA Medical Service, with 5 specialized technique units. Participation in this exercise reconfirms the commitment of the authorities of the Republic of Moldova against the constant training of national forces to cope with seizure situations.
The opening ceremony took place on September 8, 2025, on the territory of Eden Airport in Bulgaria, where the International Camp of Participating Teams is located. The exercise "Bulgaria 2025" brings together over 1,200 participants from over 40 international countries and organizations and takes place in several locations in the Montana region, Bulgaria, including within the International Training Center, a modern complex, equipped with state -of -the -art facilities for simulating interventions under real conditions.
The civil exercise allows employees from different countries to train together under conditions as close to reality as possible and encourages cooperation between civil forces and institutions responsible for managing and responding to exceptional situations, contributing to approaching emerging challenges, including those generated by climate change.
The simulated scenarios are focused on the response to natural disasters, industrial accidents and complex emergencies, including hybrid threats. These include: evacuation of victims, urban search-rescue, interventions in contaminated environments, international logistics support, civil cooperation with specialized services.
The consolidation of the intervention capabilities and the international cooperation between the participating countries is the central purpose of this exercise. Through such training missions, the following objectives are achieved: strengthening institutional resilience, developing multinational coordination skills, testing mutual support procedures between countries affected by natural or technological disasters, by ensuring efficient international assistance.
in the context of increasing the frequency and complexity of emergency situations globally, participation in large international exercises is essential for the preparation and improvement of the intervention teams in the Republic of Moldova.
By participating in the civilian emergency management exercise, organized by the Euro-Atlantic Center for NATO disaster coordination, the USAR Moldova team strengthens its prompt and efficient response capacity in cases of major crisis, both on national territory and in international missions.
The General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations participates in the international exercises organized by the Euro-Atlantic Center for the Coordination of NATO disasters and its partners since 2000, taking part in civil exercises such as "Transcarpathia-2000" in Ukraine, "Bogorodsk-2002" in Russia, "Dacia-2003" in Romania, "Idassa-2007" "Zhetysu-2009" in Kazakhstan, "Armenia-2010" in Armenia, "Codrii-2011" in the Republic of Moldova-exercise he hosted, "Georgia-2012" in Georgia, "Ukraine-2015" in Ukraine, "Srbija 2018" in Serbia and "North Macedonia 2021" regional cooperation and response capacity in complex emergency situations.
The exercise contributes to increasing interoperability with external partners and to the exchange of good practices in the field of civil protection, according to the most modern international standards.
