{"id":106400,"date":"2026-03-13T14:14:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T12:14:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disinfo.md\/photo-russian-networks-infiltrated-into-moldovan-telegram-groups-for-military-information-gathering\/"},"modified":"2026-03-13T14:14:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T12:14:08","slug":"photo-russian-networks-infiltrated-into-moldovan-telegram-groups-for-military-information-gathering","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disinfo.md\/en\/photo-russian-networks-infiltrated-into-moldovan-telegram-groups-for-military-information-gathering\/","title":{"rendered":"PHOTO Russian networks infiltrated into Moldovan Telegram groups for military information gathering"},"content":{"rendered":"

A discussion group created by citizens of the Republic of Moldova on the Telegram application, suggestively named “Moldavian Military Portal”, has become the target of an organized infiltration by individuals suspected of having connections with structures affiliated with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, notes deschide.md<\/a>. According to the information analyzed from the community members’ conversations, certain users identified as Russian citizens would have used the group for information gathering and identifying individuals willing to participate in destabilizing actions.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Undercover “patriotic” infiltration<\/strong><\/p>\n

The strategy used by the suspect accounts was a well-calculated one. Initially, they joined the discussions<\/a> without drawing attention, presenting themselves as supporters of the pro-European orientation of the Republic of Moldova and critics of Kremlin policies. To camouflage themselves, they used profile pictures with historical or cultural symbols, including the image of the ruler Stefan the Great, as well as images with supporters of the Romanian national football team. This strategy was meant to quickly gain the trust of the members and avoid suspicion.<\/p>\n

One such infiltrated agent is also Efim \u021aapu, a 29-year-old with military studies in Russia, monitored by Deschide.MD<\/a> reporters for several months.<\/p>\n

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On his page on the Vkontakte (VK) platform – a popular social network in the Russian space – \u021aapu indicates that he studied at the Maritime University of Constan\u021ba. On another VK profile, as well as on his Facebook page, he already writes that he studied at the “Admiral G. I. Nevelskoi” State Maritime University in Vladivostok, Russia.<\/p>\n

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The fact that \u021aapu would have connections with the Russian Ministry of Defense is also demonstrated by the photos he published, wearing the Russian military uniform.<\/p>\n

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Collecting information about the Army of the Republic of Moldova<\/strong><\/p>\n

After integrating into the community, \u021aapu begins to direct conversations towards sensitive topics about:<\/p>\n