Moscow has directed hybrid destabilization tactics toward Moldova, abandoning discretion and making its influence increasingly visible. The report on informational manipulation and foreign interference stated it.
European Authorities Highlight Russian Influence
The European External Action Service dedicated an entire chapter to Moldova in its latest analysis. Russian state-controlled media intensified its influence, launching aggressive narratives targeting Moldova. Additionally, the Kremlin repurposed its previous information warfare infrastructure against Ukraine, redirecting it toward Chișinău while adjusting its messaging.
“Russian operations were conducted both covertly and openly. Strategic interactions ensured that Russia’s messages reached multiple platforms and infiltrated the media landscape,” the report states.
Official Russian Channels Spread Misinformation
Several Russian government entities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, its spokesperson Maria Zakharova, and the Ministry of Defense, actively disseminated falsehoods and manipulative content. Russian-controlled media then amplified their statements, ensuring widespread distribution.
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Russian media groups, including RT-affiliated news sites and the Telegram channel Sputnik Moldova, played a key role in promoting the Kremlin’s narratives.
Election Manipulation and EU Misinformation
Ahead of Moldova’s 2024 presidential elections and referendum, pro-Kremlin narratives falsely claimed that EU integration would render Moldova a dependent state controlled from abroad. Other manipulations focused on electoral fraud allegations and the legitimacy of the elected president’s mandate.
“A key characteristic of these operations was their ability to recycle old narratives, particularly adapting messages previously used against Ukraine. Security threats and regional instability were central themes, portraying Moldova’s EU ambitions as a danger to Russian-speaking communities and fueling tensions in Transnistria,” the report further explains.
AI-Generated Disinformation and Fake Documents
The European External Action Service also analyzed AI-generated fake videos targeting President Maia Sandu. The report highlights the circulation of forged documents attributed to state institutions and the spread of election fraud claims on voting day.
Moscow’s intensified disinformation campaign underscores the growing hybrid threats Moldova faces as it moves toward European integration.