Russian intelligence services reportedly established secret training camps in the Balkans to destabilize Moldova ahead of its 2024 presidential elections. Moldovan citizens were allegedly recruited and trained in combat, drone operation, and riot tactics in Bosnia and Serbia, with instructors linked to the Wagner mercenary group.
Covert Operations Unveiled
A joint investigation by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) and the Moldovan Center for Strategic Studies CU SENS revealed the existence of these clandestine training camps. The operation aimed to disrupt Moldova’s 2024 presidential elections, where pro-Western incumbent Maia Sandu ultimately defeated pro-Russian candidate Alexandr Stoianoglo.
- Recruitment Tactics: Moldovan nationals were recruited, often through seemingly innocuous means like paintball tournaments. Participants were promised payments ranging from $300 to $500, sometimes in cryptocurrency.
- Training Curriculum: The intensive courses, lasting around 10 days, included:
- Combat training
- Drone operation
- Psychological preparation
- Riot scenarios and provoking police reactions
Key Figures and Evidence
One recruited individual, Maksim Roshka, detailed his experience, stating his phone and passport were confiscated upon arrival. He later became a prosecution witness in a trial against fellow trainees accused of plotting mass disorder. Anatoly Prizenko, identified as a key organizer and already under EU sanctions for Kremlin-linked information operations, was arrested in February 2025 in Chișinău.
Evidence found at a camp site in Radenka, Serbia, included:
- Burnt papers and remnants of tents
- Drones and VR headsets
- Starlink satellite internet equipment
- Flammable liquids
International Implications and Denials
Moldovan authorities, including MP Lilian Carp, assert they possess detailed information about the camps, instructors, and training specifics. Despite initial denials from Bosnia’s security ministry, both Bosnian and Moldovan prosecutors have launched investigations. Three Moldovan camp participants — Kharchenikov, Hotko, and Kostenko — have faced trial in Moldova.
Pro-Russian officials in Moldova and Republika Srpska continue to deny the existence of these training camps, dismissing the allegations as politically motivated. However, Moldovan prosecutors and security experts suspect the operation is backed by Moldovan oligarch Ilan Shor, currently residing in Russia.
