Moscow, September 23, 2025 (Agencies) — Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has issued a stark warning alleging that NATO is preparing to deploy military forces into Moldova, potentially staging a landing operation in Ukraine’s Odessa region to intimidate the breakaway territory of Transnistria. The claims come amid rising geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe and ahead of key elections in the region.
According to an SVR statement released Monday, Western provocations are likely to coincide with the upcoming elections to the Supreme Council of Transnistria, scheduled for November 30. The agency asserts that NATO troops are being concentrated in Romania near Moldova’s borders, with the first units from France and the United Kingdom already deployed to Odessa.
“Brussels-based European bureaucrats are determined to keep Moldova on track with their Russophobic policies,” the SVR claimed, adding that the European Union is prepared to “deploy troops and effectively occupy the country” regardless of the election outcome.
The intelligence agency further alleged that armed provocations against Transnistria and Russian forces stationed there are being considered as a pretext for intervention. Moldova’s neutral status, enshrined in its constitution, could be repealed if pro-Western parties secure a majority in the upcoming parliamentary elections, the SVR warned.
In response, Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean accused Russia of attempting to destabilize the country through disinformation and hybrid tactics. He cited reports of Russian plans to expand their military presence in Transnistria from 1,500 to as many as 10,000 troops, and warned of coordinated influence campaigns targeting Moldova’s democratic institutions.
The SVR’s claims follow a series of NATO infrastructure upgrades in Moldova, including modernization of airfields and railways, which Russian officials interpret as preparation for rapid troop deployment. Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War have noted that Russia may be using Transnistria as a staging ground for broader operations against Ukraine and the European Union.
No independent verification of the SVR’s allegations has been provided by NATO or EU officials. However, the timing of the accusations—just weeks before Moldova’s parliamentary elections—has raised concerns about potential escalation in the region.