According to the Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Reșan, intelligence data indicates that Russia intends to deploy 10,000 troops in Transnistria, bordering Ukraine and the NATO country of Romania. This would pose a serious military threat to the region and undermine democracy in Moldova.
Reșan emphasizes that Russian interference is already underway, with the Kremlin financing large-scale influence campaigns through online propaganda, disinformation, and illegal money transfers to voters. According to the Moldovan authorities, a sum equal to 1% of Moldova's GDP was spent by Russia in 2024, and there have been cases of citizens transporting up to $1.2 million in cash from Russia, as well as 130,000 voters who received Russian money during the presidential elections.
Currently, there are around 1,500 Russian troops in Transnistria, most of them local. The new expansion of the Russian military presence aims to radically change the power balance in the region. The elections in Moldova will be held at the end of September, and the democracy and security of the region are already under direct hybrid attack.