Russias foreign intelligence agency on Monday accused NATO of pushing Moldova toward a potential military confrontation with Russia by allegedly militarizing the country amid the ongoing war in neighboring Ukraine.In a statement, the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) claimed that the Western military alliance was turning Moldova into a forward base on the eastern flank, citing what it described as intelligence regarding NATOs alleged activity in the country.NATO is actively preparing to draw Moldova into a possible armed conflict with Russia, the spy agency claimed.The SVR accused NATO of deploying military instructors, opening training centers and upgrading Moldovan infrastructure including airfields, railways and bridges to enable rapid troop deployment and weapons storage.The Moscow Times could not independently verify the claims.Russias SVR also alleged that Moldovan President Maia Sandus government iseager to meet every demand from the Westin an effort to boost her pro-European partys chances of winning in parliamentary elections scheduled for September.It further claimed that Moldovas alignment with NATO would spell the beginning of the end for the country, and accused Sandu of allowing Moldova to be used by the alliance in its standoff with Russia.In a full NATO-Russian conflict, Brussels expects Moldovans to take the brunt of the fighting.
NATO sees them as expendable cannon fodder for battles with Russian troops, the agency said.The SVRs statement also included a personal attack on Sandu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, using inflammatory language in reference to their pro-Western stance.
The claim echoed previous Russian government rhetoric targeting leaders aligned with the West.Tensions between Moscow and Chisinau have escalated sharply in recent years.
Moldova has accused Russia of attempting to destabilize its political institutions and interfere in elections.The Kremlin has denied the allegations, calling them anti-Russian hysteria, and accused Moldova of deliberately sabotaging bilateral relations.The two countries have expelled dozens of each others diplomats in recent tit-for-tat moves as relations continue to sour.