Russian Disinformation Campaign Targets Moldova’s Upcoming Elections

A sophisticated Russian-linked disinformation effort is aimed at Moldova’s upcoming vote on 28 September 2025, raising concerns about foreign interference in the country’s democratic process.

According to absatz[.]media, analysis of the sites reveals a technical fingerprint linking them to the Kremlin-tied outlet and points to a common developer or operator behind campaigns attributed to the Russian threat group known as “Storm-1679” or “Matryoshka.” The networks, active since April 2025, target Moldovan audiences with narratives designed to undermine trust in the incumbent government and European integration, while concealing true sponsors by not declaring editorial ownership.

Absatz is named as the editorial force behind the operation, with Shakhnazarov M. S. publicly listed as editor-in-chief—a pseudonym traceable to Mikhail Sergeyevich Shakhnazarov, a sanctioned propagandist in Ukraine. The infrastructure includes shared IP addresses (notably IP 5.188.179[.]181) and mirrored site templates, suggesting deliberate re-use and active management by those behind Absatz. Authorities in Chisinau face the challenge of detecting and countering these covert networks to safeguard the integrity of Moldova’s ballot.