Russia continues its hostile hybrid actions, including propaganda, disinformation, and public manipulation, accusing Moldova of militarizing. Moscow claims that the West, particularly NATO, is attempting to turn Moldova into a “launching pad” for “aggressive actions” against Russia.
These false statements, filled with inaccuracies and misinterpretations, were once again made by Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She stated, “The Moldovan authorities, with the support of their Western sponsors, continue their path toward abandoning their neutral status enshrined in the Constitution, transforming the country into a launching pad for the fight against our nation.” Zakharova also emphasized Moldova’s collaboration with NATO, claiming it is documented in the country’s political and military doctrines.
However, it is Russia that is violating Moldova’s neutrality by illegally stationing troops and ammunition in the country. Despite committing at the 1999 OSCE Summit in Istanbul to withdraw its forces and arsenal from Transnistria, Russia has failed to do so, maintaining political, economic, and military control over the breakaway region.
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Zakharova’s narrative claims that Moldova is undergoing “accelerated militarization,” warning that Moldova is heading down the “path of self-destruction.” She listed various Western weapons, such as armored vehicles, drones, and anti-tank launchers, sent to Moldova, questioning, “Who needs tanks and drones? Those working in Russia? Sending money back home to their families? No!”
Contrary to Zakharova’s claims, Moldova’s National Army does not have any functioning tanks, and the drones it received are intended for monitoring purposes, not military use. Furthermore, the idea that Moldovans are predominantly working in Russia is outdated, as the majority of remittances now come from the European Union. The number of Moldovans in Russia has decreased significantly, especially after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The article also mentions Moldova being turned into a logistics base for supplying the Ukrainian Armed Forces, with military facilities such as the Bulboaca training ground and Mărculești airfield now aligned with NATO standards. Reports of Moldova hosting F-16 planes for Ukraine were dismissed by the authorities as “false news” in August. They stressed that hosting foreign military aircraft would violate Moldova’s neutral status.
Maria Zakharova also accused the Moldovan government, led by President Maia Sandu, of planning to seize Moldova’s Transnistrian thermal power plant. Moldova has repeatedly expressed its commitment to a peaceful resolution to the Transnistrian conflict and denied any intentions of forcibly taking control of the region. The aging power plant remains economically viable only due to Russia’s free gas supply to the separatists.