THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA IN THE CONTEXT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION HYBRID WAR

Nearly 35 years after the conclusion of the Cold War and the collapse of the former Soviet Union, the Russian Federation, as its successor, strives to reclaim its status as a great power. More than three decades since the dissolution of USSR and Moldova’s declaration of independence on August 27, 1991, the Republic of Moldova remains a state where the Russian Federation pursues its own geopolitical interests, employing a range of strategies from soft power to coercion in order to achieve its objectives. Since early 2000s, the Russian Federation has adopted a more assertive policy to reestablish its influence in the “near abroad,” a region where it continues to advance its geostrategic interests. In this manner, the Russian hybrid warfare against the Republic of Moldova reflects its broader strategy of maintaining regional dominance. Since the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of USSR, the Russian Federation, as its successor, has persistently sought to regain its status as a global power. The purpose of this article is to highlight the main elements of the hybrid war used by the Russian Federation to maintain the Republic of Moldova within its sphere of influence.