Russia Launches Coordinated Disinformation Campaign Targeting Moldova

The Russian disinformation network known as Matryoshka has launched its first large-scale campaign targeting Moldova, according to a report by The Insider.

Videos mimicking content from global media outlets and academic institutions are being shared on the social platforms X and Bluesky.

They claim that Moldovan President Maia Sandu secured her election victory through propaganda campaigns and is now cracking down on political opponents.

One video, falsely attributed to the French state anti-disinformation agency VIGINUM, is shared with the caption: “VIGINUM has prepared a multi-level study of the phenomenon of propaganda in favor of Maia Sandu on TikTok.”

The video alleges that $1 million is spent daily on disinformation content supporting Sandu.

It is significant that in the past, Călin Georgescu himself, a former far-right candidate for the presidency of Romania, was accused of similar manipulation via TikTok.

Those accusations led to the annulment of his first-round election victory and disqualification from further participation.

In addition to claims of corruption and political repression, the videos feature actors portraying “university professors” who promote standard Kremlin talking points. These include allegations that Sandu belongs to the LGBT community and that her administration is replacing “traditional values” with “non-traditional” ones.

One video claims that Sandu intends to bring the Orthodox Church in Moldova under the control of the Romanian Orthodox Church — specifically, transferring the Chisinau diocese away from the Russian Orthodox Church. The video presents this alleged plan as part of a broader effort to merge Moldova with Romania.

So far, 10 videos have been published within the campaign: four imitate respected media outlets, while the other six present staged lectures by supposed “university professors.” A fake magazine cover is also being shared.

According to The Insider’s “Bot Blocker” project, the Matryoshka network previously distributed only one fake video about Moldova — in June 2024.

That Romanian-language video, disguised as a public service announcement, promoted tolerance toward people with disabilities and LGBT individuals, but its real goal was to provoke fear and backlash against “European” values.

In December 2024, Moldova’s Security and Intelligence Service (SIS) chief Alexandru Musteata warned of a growing risk of Russian interference.