Russian Mercenary Camps in Balkans Target Moldova

A network of secret paramilitary camps operated in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina has been linked to efforts to destabilize Moldova’s democratic process. Moldovan citizens were covertly flown into the region, stripped of their identification, and enrolled in intensive training programs run by Russian intelligence operatives and Wagner Group affiliates.

These camps provided instruction in drone piloting, psychological manipulation, and civil disruption tactics, including methods to escalate protests into violence. Participants were reportedly subjected to simulations involving riot scenarios and trained to provoke state security forces—tactics designed not for open warfare, but for engineered domestic unrest.

Each recruit was paid between $300–500 per session, with compensation delivered in cryptocurrency to avoid detection. Fronts such as leadership retreats and paintball events were used to recruit operatives without raising suspicion. Investigators believe these individuals were meant to return to Moldova to stage confrontations and erode public trust in the electoral system during the 2024 presidential vote.

While Moldovan authorities acted swiftly—arresting suspects and exposing the logistics network—Bosnia’s response was slower. After initially denying the camps« existence, the Bosnian state prosecutor eventually opened a criminal case. Serbian authorities have yet to issue a clear position, highlighting gaps in regional coordination that Moscow continues to exploit.

This operation illustrates how the Balkans are being repurposed as a launchpad for Russian hybrid warfare. As Moscow seeks to destabilize pro-European governments through proxies and non-linear tactics, the region’s unresolved political vulnerabilities are becoming active fronts in a broader contest for influence in Eastern Europe.