Moldova: Putin's 2026 target - and why it threatens all of Europe | The latest National and International News - upday News
Russian President Vladimir Putin has set a goal for 2026 to achieve the internal collapse of NATO and the European Union, with Moldova playing a central role in the strategy. The New York Times reported the plan, citing officials from two countries familiar with a secret briefing held late last year. The revelation exposes the Kremlin's ambitions beyond Ukraine and signals a broader campaign to destabilize Western alliances. | The latest National and International News - upday News
Russian President Vladimir Putin has set a goal for 2026 to achieve the internal collapse of NATO and the European Union, with Moldova playing a central role in the strategy. The New York Times reported the plan, citing officials from two countries familiar with a secret briefing held late last year. The revelation exposes the Kremlin's ambitions beyond Ukraine and signals a broader campaign to destabilize Western alliances. Western intelligence sources told The New York Times that Russia has identified two top priorities: subduing Ukraine and establishing control over Moldova. Putin reportedly still intends to seize southern Ukraine to create a land corridor connecting Russia directly to Moldova. This would place the small nation of 2. 4 million people, situated between Ukraine and NATO territory, in an extremely vulnerable position. Moldova's strategic importance stems from its location and existing Russian foothold. The country contains Transnistria, a Russian-backed separatist region where Russian troops have been stationed for decades. Control over Moldova would provide Russia with another platform to pressure Ukraine while increasing strain on NATO's and the EU's eastern flank. Multi-pronged interference campaignRussia spent months preparing an extensive subversion campaign targeting Moldova's September 2025 parliamentary elections. Western intelligence indicated that the GRU, Russia's military intelligence service, controlled training camps in Serbia, Bosnia, and near Moscow where over 100 young Moldovan citizens learned to handle weapons, explosives, incendiary devices, and drones. The Kremlin also financed a massive voter bribery operation through the network of pro-Russian politician Ilan Shor, engaging over 150,000 people. Participants received payments to attend rallies, post content, and campaign against Maia Sandu and EU accession. The operation utilized 240 Telegram bots, thousands of activists, and over 1,000 local coordinators. Additionally, hundreds of Orthodox priests were paid to oppose Moldova's European integration. You may also likeRead more from ukEurope's drought drives 19% wheat price surge, puts next year's harvest at riskEurope's severe drought is threatening the fall planting season, putting next year's crop at risk and adding pressure to global food supplies already strained by geopolitical tensions. Parched soil and scorching heat from multiple heat waves this summer have farmers delaying crucial planting decisions. 700,000 barrels a day offline as drone strike forces Russia's key oil hub to shutRussia's largest oil export terminal on the Black Sea has halted operations after a drone attack on Friday. The Sheskharis terminal in Novorossiysk suspended both oil loading onto tankers and crude oil intake, according to Reuters citing industry sources. 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Moldovan authorities, with Western support, disrupted the campaign. Police searched hundreds of homes and detained individuals who had attended training camps. Cybersecurity specialists repelled hacker attacks. Sandu's PAS party ultimately retained its parliamentary majority with slightly over 50% of votes. Infrastructure attacks escalate pressureRussia has continued aggressive actions since the election. In early March, a Russian strike on a Ukrainian hydroelectric plant near the Moldovan border contaminated water supplies affecting large parts of both countries. Russian drones later struck a high-voltage line in western Ukraine that supplies up to 70% of Moldova's electricity, causing widespread blackouts. Stanislav Secrieru, advisor to the Moldovan president on national security and defense, stated that Russia aims to use Moldova "as a staging ground for hostile actions against Ukraine, as well as against the European Union as its main defense and financial donor. " He added that Russia has directed unprecedented resources towards these goals in recent years. Mihai Lupascu, director of Moldova's Cybersecurity Agency, acknowledged the ongoing threat despite the election victory: "We won the battle. But we have not won the war. "Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).