Moldova's Sunday election will decide whether Putin gets his next Belarus—a new platform for destabilizing NATO's border just as Ukraine fights for its survival.
The operation, orchestrated by Russian intelligence and coordinated by Moldovan businessman Ilan Șor, employs various tactics to undermine Moldova's sovereignty and influence voter behavior.
North Korea has deployed between 8,000-12,000 troops to support Russia's war in Ukraine in exchange for $200 million, rice supplies and space technology. Meanwhile, the UN chief expressed concern over this escalation despite meeting with Putin in Russia at the recent BRICS summit. Pro-European candidate Maia Sandu secured re-election as Moldova's president thanks to strong diaspora support, despite trailing domestically by 2.4%. While Ukraine could face up to 20 hours without electricity daily this winter due to Russian attacks on power infrastructure, Germany pledged $217 million in humanitarian winter aid to help cope with energy shortages.