The mayor of Chișinău, Ion Ceban, confirmed that he was in Moscow on February 24, 2022, the day the war in Ukraine began, explaining that he was on vacation with his family.

In an interview for Euronews Romania, Ion Ceban admitted that on February 24, 2022, the day of the invasion of Ukraine, he was in Moscow with his family for a planned vacation. After learning about the war, he quickly returned to Moldova, getting involved in managing the reception of refugees. He also denied meetings with individuals associated with Russian intelligence services. Ceban had previously avoided confirming his presence in Moscow on the day of the invasion, and a recent investigation suggests that he may have had a "hidden agenda."