NYT Report Details Kremlin Strategy to Target Moldova "After Ukraine"

A New York Times investigation published August 15, drawing on leaked "Kremlin files," reported that Vladimir Putin views Moldova as a next-stage target in his campaign to weaken NATO's eastern flank, describing coordinated use of Russian intelligence agents, Orthodox clergy networks, and vote-buying schemes to erode pro-EU sentiment. The report reinforced findings by Moldovan and independent investigators that fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor's network used billions of dollars in cryptocurrency to evade sanctions and fund influence operations, including AI-generated disinformation campaigns on TikTok and Meta platforms ahead of the 2025 election.