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Ahead of Sept. 28 Election, Russia Pushes Disinformation of EU ‘Occupation’ in Moldova
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![Photo of Roman Kohanets]( "Photo of Roman Kohanets")
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Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) alleged that the European Union is prepared to impose a “de facto occupation” of Moldova after the Sept. 28 parliamentary election and support a NATO operation in Ukraine’s Odesa region, according to Moscow Times on September 23.
In a statement carried by The Moscow Times, the SVR claimed “NATO was massing troops in neighboring Romania and in the Ukrainian port city of Odesa” and alleged that “Euro-bureaucrats in Brussels are determined to keep Moldova in line with their Russophobic policies… including deploying troops and carrying out the de facto occupation of the country.”
The agency further asserted a “NATO landing” was being prepared in Odesa to “intimidate Transnistria,” without providing evidence.
Moldovan authorities have rejected recurring claims about foreign troops. The Defense Ministry said the rumors that “British soldiers are deployed on the border with the Transnistrian region” and that “over 800 NATO soldiers will arrive… after the elections” are unfounded, adding: “This is all part of the hybrid war that Russia is waging against the Republic of Moldova.”
The allegations come amid a broader security sweep in Moldova ahead of Sunday’s vote. Police said they detained 74 people and carried out about 250 raids tied to an alleged Russia-backed plot to incite unrest; authorities said the operation uncovered about $50,000 in cash and traced illicit cryptocurrency flows of about $540,000.
President Maia Sandu said the Kremlin is spending “hundreds of millions of euros” to sway the election, warning: “People are intoxicated daily with lies… we must not allow our country to be handed over to foreign interests.”
Separately, Bloomberg reported that documents it reviewed outline a multi-pronged Russian effort to influence the vote, including recruiting Moldovan voters abroad, organizing protests and running coordinated disinformation campaigns in Romanian and Russian on social platforms and via call centers.
Earlier, it was reported that Russia’s foreign intelligence service alleged NATO was preparing Moldova for military conflict by modernizing infrastructure, influencing the armed forces, and supporting the pro-presidential party.
