Russia is seeking to deploy up to 10,000 troops in Moldova’s separatist Transnistria region should the pro-EU authorities lose the parliamentary elections scheduled for September, Prime Minister Dorin Recean told The Financial Times on June 4.

Recean said Moscow is intensifying efforts to interfere in Moldova's domestic politics to secure a more Kremlin-aligned government in Chișinău, which could facilitate an expanded Russian military presence on the Ukrainian border. "This is a huge effort to undermine Moldovan democracy. They want to consolidate their military presence in Transnistria," Recean said.

According to the Moldovan prime minister, Russia is engaging in hybrid warfare tactics including online propaganda and illegal financial transfers aimed at influencing political parties and voters. He claimed that in 2024 alone, Russia spent the equivalent of 1% of Moldova’s gross domestic product on propaganda and influence campaigns.

Currently, 430 Russian personnel are stationed in Transnistria as part of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces, while an additional 1,500 serve in the Operational Group of Russian Troops, according to Moldova’s Bureau of Reintegration. The Moldovan government maintains that these forces are stationed illegally and has repeatedly called for their withdrawal in international forums.

The warning comes amid heightened EU engagement with Moldova. At the 9th Moldova-EU Association Council held in Brussels on June 4, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said the upcoming elections would be a target of Russian hybrid war, G4Media reported.

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos reaffirmed the EU’s support for Moldova’s EU membership aspirations and said the bloc would provide both technical and political assistance to ensure free and fair elections this autumn.

“The European Union sees Moldova as part of the European family,” Kos said.