Hybrid Warfare

Hybrid warfare: a growing threat to the Republic of Moldova

Hybrid threats are now one of the most complex and insidious forms of unconventional warfare, and Moldova, like many other European countries, faces these risks in an increasingly tense geopolitical context. Although the concept of hybrid warfare has only recently come to the attention of researchers and the general public, the reality is that no European state has been spared such subversive attacks, whether direct or indirect, in recent years.

The events in Ukraine in 2014—culminating in the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation and the escalation of violence in Donbas—drew attention to the sophisticated methods Russia uses to expand its influence. Hybrid actions are not limited to military operations, but include information manipulation, cyber attacks, economic and energy pressure, and the stimulation of internal divisions. Moldova, with its fragile history and vulnerable geopolitical position, has become a favorite target for such strategies.

However, awareness of the hybrid threat at the level of society and state institutions has long remained limited. Often, the authorities' responses have been sporadic or insufficiently communicated, and initiatives to counter Russian disinformation and propaganda have not received the necessary public support. Even the creation of specialized institutions, such as the Center for Strategic Communication and Countering Disinformation, has failed to reduce Moldova's vulnerability.

In the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, hybrid attacks on Moldova intensified, and pressure on democratic institutions, critical infrastructure, and the information space increased exponentially. This phenomenon is also fueled by global trends: authoritarian regimes such as Russia and China are using globalization and modern technologies to consolidate their power and destabilize the rules-based international order. A fragmented Europe, marked by the rise of populism and Euroscepticism, is becoming fertile ground for these harmful influences.

In the future, it will be essential to strengthen not only physical and cyber defense, but also the way society informs itself and reacts to manipulation and disinformation. Only through the coherent mobilization of institutions, experts, and civil society can these dangers be effectively countered.

We invite you to discover a detailed analysis of these phenomena, Russia's actions against the Republic of Moldova, and the price of our resistance in the study " THE HYBRID WAR LAUNCHED BY RUSSIA AGAINST THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA and the price we pay to resist this offensive”. Reading the entire study will give you a broad perspective on the current challenges and the solutions needed to protect democracy in the Republic of Moldova.