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NYT: Putin's Plan for Moldova, Targeting West's Collapse
๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด Romania /Conflict & Security

NYT: Putin's Plan for Moldova, Targeting West's Collapse

From Adevฤƒrul · () Romanian

Translated from Romanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Russia may target Moldova next after Ukraine as part of a broader plan to weaken the West, according to The New York Times.
  • Putin reportedly aims to destabilize NATO and the EU from within, using Moldova as a foothold for actions against Ukraine and pressure on the EU.
  • Russian influence operations in Moldova allegedly included propaganda, disinformation, cyberattacks, and clandestine funding, with some Orthodox priests reportedly paid to spread anti-EU messages.

Moldova could become Russia's next strategic target following Ukraine, as part of a larger Kremlin plan to undermine the West. The New York Times reports that Vladimir Putin informed military commanders and officials in late 2025 of Moscow's goal for 2026: the internal collapse of NATO and the European Union.

one of the objectives of Moscow for 2026 is the 'collapse of NATO and the European Union from within'.

โ€” Western intelligence officialsAttributed information regarding Putin's alleged goals for 2026.

Western intelligence officials, familiar with a late last year meeting, attribute this strategy to the Kremlin. The plan reportedly involves subjugating Ukraine first, then exerting control over Moldova. Moscow views Moldova as a potential base for operations against Ukraine and a means to pressure the EU, according to the American publication's sources.

Moscow would see the Republic of Moldova as a possible support point for actions against Ukraine, but also as a way to put pressure on the European Union.

โ€” Sources cited by The New York TimesExplaining Russia's strategic interest in Moldova.

The NYT investigation highlights operations preceding Moldova's parliamentary elections in September 2025. Russia allegedly attempted to influence the outcome through propaganda, disinformation, cyberattacks, clandestine funding, and vote-buying. Moldovan authorities also uncovered a network recruiting and training individuals for violent protests and destabilizing incidents.

about $1,000

โ€” The New York TimesThe reported amount some Moldovan clerics were to receive for spreading anti-EU messages.

One alleged tactic involved using Orthodox priests in Moldova. According to NYT information, several clerics were flown to Russia and received bank cards from Promsvyazbank. Some were reportedly to receive about $1,000 to convey anti-European integration messages in their communities. The operation extended to training Moldovan citizens for violent actions, with a camp in Serbia reportedly offering courses on using weapons, evading security forces, and arson for approximately $400. Instructors allegedly had ties to Russia's GRU military intelligence, and Moldovan prosecutors indicate over 100 youths received training in Russia, including on improvised explosive devices and drones.

approximately $400

โ€” The New York TimesThe reported payment for participants in a violent protest training camp in Serbia.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Adevฤƒrul in Romanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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