Understanding Hybrid Threats and their Societal Impact – Republic of Moldova Case Study

Hybrid threats undermine societies and foster unrest. Russia’s brutal and unjustified war against Ukraine has changed Moldova’s geopolitical situation. As President Maia Sandu states “using the full range of hybrid threats - including false bomb threats, cyber-attacks, disinformation, calls for social unrest and open corruption – Russia has sought to destabilize the government, erode our democracy and jeopardize Moldova’s contribution to the security of Europe as a whole”. Through consultants, money transfers, and fostering corruption, Russia is interfering in Moldova’s political landscape. However, the international community is highly concerned and supports the Republic of Moldova through a wide range of measures and instruments. The goal of this article is to highlight the main hybrid actions, their impact on Moldovan society, and the state authority’s response in responding to these hybrid threats. Consequently, this article emphasizes the difficulty of ensuring political sustainability amid an intense hybrid warfare.