An investigation by The Insider and Moldovan outlet โMalenkaya Stranaโ found that former Moldovan Chief of General Staff Igor Gorgan was spying for Russian military intelligence.
Gorganโs communication with Russian curator Aleksey Makarov intensified from April 2022, following the start of Russiaโs war against Ukraine. Their secret meetings primarily occurred in Chisinau cafes or during fishing trips.
Gorgan used to brief the Russian agent on the countryโs political landscape and visits by Ukraineโs Defense Ministryโs representatives, who planned to procure military equipment and ammunition for the Ukrainian Army during their meetings.
The Russian intelligence officers were particularly interested in Ukraineโs procurement of weapons from neighboring countries, including Moldova. Correspondence highlighted six MiG-29s stationed at Moldovaโs Marculesti airbase and requests for the sale of artillery shells.
Additionally, Gorgan provided details about the fuel train routes from Moldova to Ukraine.
Itโs unclear exactly when the ex-top general became a Russian agent. A source in military intelligence at The Insider speculated that it likely began in 2004 when Gorgan was serving in a NATO mission.
Numerous of Gorganโs associates remained within Moldovaโs Defense Ministry. One of them revealed Ukrainian officialsโ request to establish ties with the Chisinau-based electronics plant MEZON, which formerly produced electronics for the Soviet army.
Ukrainian representatives sought to repair a Tochka-U tactical missile system and transfer technical documentation.
The investigation revealed his informants among Moldovan officials. For instance, one source shared a document with the journalist detailing planned training exercises by the Moldovan army at the Bulboaca military training ground. Moscow spies also sent the documents to Russian intelligence headquarters.
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