Russia as a hybrid threat to Moldova in the context of the Russian–Ukrainian war

Abstract

Russia’s invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in February 2022 has largely shaken Europe’s existing security architecture. The neighbouring Republic of Moldova, home to a Russian military contingent, has also expressed concerns about its security. These soldiers are stationed in Transnistria, a de facto state on Moldovan territory. Based on the field research conducted, the present article aims to clarify how the Kremlin exploits the internal vulnerabilities of Moldova in creating hybrid threats in this country in the context of the current conflict in Ukraine and how the Moldovan government copes with them while facing the new security situation. The authors conclude that despite the Moldovan government’s efforts to limit Russian hybrid operations on its territory, the Kremlin has effectively destabilised Moldova, except for its energy dependence on Russia. In this regard, the Moldovan government is succeeding in taking the necessary steps towards greater energy independence from Russia.