Russian intelligence recruited Moldova’s former Chief of General Staff, who worked until the end of 2021 and wanted Russia to invade the country.

The Insider has gained access to the Telegram correspondence between Igor Gorgan, former Chief of the General Staff of Moldova, and his GRU handler, Russian Colonel Alexei Makarov.

Gorgan regularly reported to Makarov on Moldova’s domestic political situation and provided information on visits from Ukrainian Ministry of Defense representatives, who came to Moldova to purchase military equipment and ammunition.

Gorgan served in the General Staff until late 2021, when the country’s new president Maia Sandu requested his resignation.

Before the July 2023 mass expulsion of Russian spies working in Moldova under diplomatic cover in Moldova, Gorgan even managed to secure a job at the UN.

“Leveraging his remaining connections in the Moldovan Defense Ministry, Gorgan continues to be a key GRU informant,” the publication said.

Igor Gorgan and Alexei Makarov started particularly active communication in April 2022, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The confidential meetings mostly took place in Chișinău cafes or on a fishing trip:

“I can meet anyone, I am a man of action, we need to move forward faster! We should go fishing and talk about everything! We’re living in historic times! And we have to make this history!” one of the messages from the Moldovan general reads.

According to these reports, Russia was particularly interested in what kind of weapons Kyiv was buying from neighboring countries, particularly Moldova. General Gorgan immediately reported:

“Ukraine’s [state defense exporter] Ukroboronexport is trying to buy back (or take with the help of ‘partners’) six Mig-29s from Moldova, which are in Mărculești. They insist very strongly… So far, the airplanes are in place. They want to ‘pull off’ the operation through a front company from the United Arab Emirates in the near future.” the spy reported to the handler.

Gorgan sent another message on the same day: “Railroad trains with fuel are coming from the territory of Moldova, namely from the village of Etulia to the Ukrainian settlement of Reni. The train with fuel moves only at night, during the day, it stands still not to become a target of the Russian Aerospace Forces.”

Another message to the handler followed soon after: “The Ukrainians have been walking around our Ministry of Defense for three weeks asking for everything — artillery shells in particular.”

Agent Gorgan was also restless about arms deliveries to Ukraine via Romania. Here’s the advice he gave to Colonel Makarov: “It’s essential to close the border with Romania as soon as possible! It’s a big hole! A lot of cargo comes to Ukraine from there. Especially military cargo! The Romanians still have some military factories that produce weapons and ammunition.”

Moldovan investigative journalists who specialize in Russian espionage have repeatedly spotted General Gorgan at the Russian embassy in Chișinău, and once during a confidential meeting with Makarov.

According to the correspondence, the spy and the handler developed quite friendly relations.

Meanwhile, he constantly bombarded Makarov with messages that everything in Moldova was ready for the deployment of Russian troops:

“We urgently need to cleanse the country of all fascist scum! Many are ready. Pass it on… The time has come. I keep the whole situation in the army under control… Here, to my joy, there is no ‘Azov’ or other formations, and we will deal with the politicians quickly.”

Prior to the mass expulsion of Russian diplomats from Moldova in July 2023, Gorgan ceased communication and secured a job at the UNHCR-Moldova office in Chișinău.

Handlers from the Russian Federation

It was not possible to find out exactly when Gorgan contacted the Russian intelligence agent and offered his services.

The Insider’s military intelligence source suggested that active contacts most likely began in 2004 when Gorgan served in a NATO mission.

At least it is reported that before Colonel Makarov, he had an agent contact with Vadim Ukhnalev, the Russian military attaché in Chișinău.

Colonel Ukhnalev currently holds the position of military attaché in Kazakhstan, where he “has established active contacts among the military leadership.”

After Ukhnalev left, Gorgan was supervised by another military attaché, Igor Dovbnya.

The Insider has a recording of a phone conversation between Gorgan and Dovbnya, where they agreed to meet and “discuss everything” near the memorial to the fallen Afghan soldiers in Chișinău.

In 2017, Dovbnya was expelled from Moldova for espionage. Now, the Russian spy is the head of the Russian military attaché office in Kyrgyzstan.

To recap, in 2023, Moldova called Russia a threat to its national security, which wants to eliminate the country’s statehood.