AI Generated Image
Why Moldova is second on Putin’s list: what The New York Times learned the Kremlin’s plan to ‘collapse’ NATO and the EU from within
Meduza • • world
Key Points:
- In late 2025, Vladimir Putin set a goal for 2026 to cause the collapse of NATO and the EU from within, with Moldova playing a central role in these plans, according to The New York Times citing Western intelligence sources.
- Russia prioritized subjugating Ukraine and then Moldova, aiming to create a land corridor linking Russia to Moldova through southern Ukraine, while publicly denying any threat to Europe.
- The Kremlin attempted to interfere in Moldova’s September 2025 parliamentary elections using cyberattacks, disinformation, vote-buying, and enlisted Moldovan priests to oppose EU integration.
- Russian military intelligence operated training camps in Serbia, Bosnia, and near Moscow to train Moldovan citizens in violent tactics, including the use of explosives and drones, to disrupt elections and destabilize Moldova.
- Moldovan authorities, supported by Western allies, successfully thwarted many Russian efforts before the elections, maintaining parliamentary control, though officials warned the broader conflict remains ongoing.
