Putin's Covert Campaign to Destabilize Moldova Targets EU and NATO

According to a New York Times report, Russian intelligence has been conducting a secret operation aimed at destabilizing Moldova, a small Eastern European country of three million people. The Kremlin's strategy involves training young operatives in Serbia to breach police barriers, ignite fires, and use assault rifles while wearing body armor. These trainees were instructed by agents linked to Russia's military intelligence (GRU) with the goal of creating a skilled force to interfere in Moldovan elections and sow chaos.

Moldova holds a strategic position between Ukraine and NATO countries, making it a key target for Russian President Vladimir Putin's broader plan to undermine NATO and the European Union from within by 2026. This campaign ranks second in priority after the invasion of Ukraine. An Israeli-Moldovan oligarch, Ilan Shor, who fled Moldova amid allegations of a billion-dollar fraud, is reportedly orchestrating the operation remotely from Russia. Shor has recruited over 150,000 people via Telegram, using hundreds of bots to coordinate protests and spread anti-Western propaganda, paying millions to activists ahead of Moldova's 2024 EU accession referendum.

The Kremlin's tactics also include enlisting hundreds of Orthodox priests to preach against the EU in exchange for payments and bank cards linked to the Russian defense ministry. Additionally, returning trainees were found with drone parts and manuals on domestic terrorism. Moldovan authorities arrested activists carrying Molotov cocktails disguised as party supplies during the 2025 parliamentary elections, which were marred by Russian cyberattacks and planned unrest. Despite these efforts, the pro-Western government narrowly won with just over 50% of the vote, largely due to diaspora support.

Beyond political interference, Russia has targeted Moldova's energy infrastructure by striking Ukrainian power plants supplying electricity to Moldova, causing widespread blackouts. Government buildings operate under power-saving measures, highlighting the ongoing pressure. Moldovan officials warn that Russia is engaged in a long-term campaign to control Moldova and destabilize European stability. Mihai Lupsco, head of Moldova's cyber agency, summarized the situation: "We won the battle, but not the war."