Sept. 29, 2025, 1:58 p.m.

Romanian President says he saved Odesa from Russian invasion

(Traian Băsescu. PHOTO: dcnews.md)

Romanian President from December 2004 to December 2014, Traian Basescu, said that it was his policy that saved Odesa from a possible Russian invasion in 2022.

The Romanian politician made this statement on television, according to dcnews.md.

When asked by political scientist Bohdan Kiriak why the Russians are unable to land in Odesa, Traian Băsescu said that it was because he prevented the Russians from purchasing two Mistral-type ships from the French. One was called Sevastopol and the other Vladivostok.

"I prevented Russia from purchasing two Mistral ships from the French. One was called Sevastopol and the other Vladivostok. "The Sevastopol was a landing ship for the Black Sea, and it is clear that it was for the Odesa region. Now the Russians do not have the right ship," the politician said.

Traian Basescu is a Romanian politician, President of Romania from December 2004 to December 2014. Prior to that, he was a merchant ship captain and served as mayor of Bucharest from June 2000 to December 2004. On July 6, 2012, the Romanian parliament impeached Traian Basescu. On July 29, 2012, a national referendum on the impeachment was held. "87% of the Romanians who took part in the referendum were in favor, but it was declared invalid due to insufficient voter turnout (46% of citizens). On August 28, the Romanian Constitutional Court declared the impeachment referendum null and void. Traian Basescu resumed his powers as President.

In<span> December 2024, the head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, </span>Oleh Kiper<span>, said that in 2022 </span>, Metropolitan<span> Agafangel of Odesa and Izmail, who heads the region's branch of the Russian Orthodox Church, known as the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate),</span><span> saved Odesa from a Russian landing </span><span> by his prayers.</span>

Prior to that, in January 2024, Odesa Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov awarded Major Denys Didychuk with the Odesa Mayor's Honorary Award "For the Defense of Odesa." On March 21, 2022, Denys Didychuk commanded a rocket-artillery platoon of the 28th separate mechanized brigade named after the Knights of the Winter Campaign, which fought with Russian ships in the morning of that day and shot down one of the frigates, forcing the enemy to abandon further attacks.

Кирило Бойко

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