Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has accused the European Union of conspiring to “occupy” Moldova with NATO troops following this weekend’s parliamentary elections.

The sweeping allegation, made Tuesday in an official SVR statement, reflects Moscow’s ongoing disinformation campaign to destabilize Moldova as the country moves closer to the EU.

The Russian agency claimed without providing any evidence that NATO was massing forces in Romania and the Ukrainian port city of Odesa, allegedly preparing either to suppress protests in Moldova after the vote or to interfere in Transnistria’s elections in November.

“Euro-bureaucrats in Brussels are determined to keep Moldova in line with their Russophobic policies. They intend to do this at any cost, including deploying troops and carrying out the de facto occupation of the country,” the SVR alleged.

Moldovan crackdown on Russian interference

The conspiracy narrative follows a major security operation in Moldova on Monday, when police carried out raids at 250 sites and arrested 74 people. Authorities say the suspects were part of Russian-backed networks paying locals to buy votes and training young Moldovans to instigate election violence.

President of Moldova Maia Sandu has repeatedly warned that Moscow seeks to derail Moldova’s democratic process.

“Russia aims to destabilize Moldova and pull us away from Europe,” Sandu said earlier this year.

Additionally, Bloomberg reported Monday that leaked documents detailed Russian plans to orchestrate protests, run disinformation campaigns, and mobilize Moldovan voters abroad as part of a broader interference strategy.