NYT: Putin ordered intelligence services to destroy NATO and EU from within in 2026
According to New York Times reporting, Putin tasked Russian military and intelligence officials in December 2025 with undermining NATO and the EU, using Moldova as a central target.
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What to know
- Putin ordered Russian military and intelligence officials in December 2025 to pursue the destruction of NATO and the EU from within as a 2026 strategic goal.
- Moldova emerged as a central target, with Russia deploying paid Orthodox priests, vote-buying schemes, and election interference training camps in Serbia to destabilize the country.
- Moldova's pro-Western government defeated the interference campaign and won parliamentary elections in September 2025, with help from Western allies in countering hacking attacks.
- The New York Times investigation reveals the extent of Russian covert operations but raises questions about broader Russian influence in Western governments and the West's ability to counter such campaigns.
How it unfolded
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Comments on Reddit expressed skepticism about Russia's intentions versus its ability to execute them, with some connecting the effort to broader concerns about Western political vulnerability and alleged Russian influence within the U.S. administration.
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Posts on X and Mastodon rapidly spread the New York Times reporting, with outlets emphasizing Moldova's central role in Putin's broader strategy to weaken NATO and the EU.
“Putin has set a goal for 2026: undermine the EU and NATO from within. According to The New York Times, the plan was discussed at a closed-door meeting with Russian military and intelligence officials.”
@nexta_tv -
The New York Times detailed Russia's extensive operation in Moldova, including paying Orthodox priests, running vote-buying schemes, and establishing training camps on election interference—all to derail the Western-leaning government.
“In Moldova, Moscow paid Orthodox priests, conducted a vote-buying scheme and set up training camps on election interference — all in an effort to derail the Western-leaning government.”
Michael Schwirtz, Adam Goldman, Aaron Krolik - 37 weeks quiet
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Event Putin orders destruction of NATO and EU from within
According to the New York Times, Putin held a closed-door meeting with Russian military and intelligence officials in December 2025, tasking them with weakening NATO and the EU in 2026.
- 13 weeks quiet
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Ahead of Moldova's September 2025 parliamentary election, Russia allegedly intensified efforts to weaken President Sandu's pro-European Action and Solidarity party. Moldovan authorities conducted hundreds of raids, arrested people linked to training camps and vote-buying schemes, and cybersecurity experts thwarted hacking attacks. Sandu's party ultimately won just over 50% of the vote and retained its parliamentary majority.
What people are saying verbatim
“Putin has set a goal for 2026: undermine the EU and NATO from within. According to The New York Times, the plan was discussed at a closed-door meeting with Russian military and intelligence officials.”
@nexta_tv · X · Aug 13
“In Moldova, Moscow paid Orthodox priests, conducted a vote-buying scheme and set up training camps on election interference — all in an effort to derail the Western-leaning government.”
Michael Schwirtz, Adam Goldman, Aaron Krolik · The New York Times · Aug 13
“Russian intelligence (GRU) has conducted training camps in Serbia to prepare specialized units for election interference in Moldova.”
hanse_mina@mastodon.social · Mastodon · Aug 14
“Politicians that take Russian money are not naive, they know exactly what the plan is. And I am not naive enough to believe they will ever really be punished, which I guess is why they sell out their countries without blushing.”
Readonkulous · Reddit ↗ · Aug 13
“Yes, and despite the warnings almost nobody in Ukraine believed the threat to be existential even a few days before the operation started. Russia didn't archive their objectives. They still brought unbelievable and continuing suffering to all of Ukraine.”
Nightron · Reddit ↗ · Aug 14
“If Donald Trump was intentionally trying to weaken the United States But he can't do it alone... Half of the administration must be directly or indirectly on the Russian payrol”
Sudden-Fisherman5985 · Reddit ↗ · Aug 14
The conversation unedited, verbatim
21 comments claimed on the threads · 18 collected here from 3 sites · 18 voices below over time ↑
Where people stand verbatim
The conversation centers on skepticism about Russia's ability to execute its stated objectives versus genuine alarm about the vulnerabilities this campaign exposes. Commenters debate whether the threat is exaggerated, whether Western officials are complicit or compromised, and what protections are actually in place.
The dispute Whether Russian interference campaigns represent a genuinely existential threat requiring urgent action, or are part of a longer historical pattern that has proven less destructive than claimed.
Russian interference is real and ongoing, but the West is insufficiently vigilant and some officials may be compromised or self-interested.
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“Politicians that take Russian money are not naive, they know exactly what the plan is. And I am not naive enough to believe they will ever really be punished, which I guess is why they sell out their countries without blushing.”
Readonkulous · Reddit ↗ -
“If Donald Trump was intentionally trying to weaken the United States But he can't do it alone... Half of the administration must be directly or indirectly on the Russian payrol”
Sudden-Fisherman5985 · Reddit ↗
Russia's interference is not new and overstated; this has been occurring for decades and the current focus oversimplifies the problem.
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“How can this be considered fresh information? Russia has been having the KGB carrying out those orders; starting a few decades ago.”
BeaverMissed · Reddit ↗ -
“He's taking credit for something that has been festering for many years with and without the current administration”
TheRamblerJohnson · Reddit
Russia lacks the actual capability to execute such grand plans effectively, despite stated intentions.
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“those guys are wiping ass bare handed. I don't think anyone is destroying anything but sheets of Pravda newspaper”
awfulgoodness · Reddit
- How can the West more effectively detect and counter Russian intelligence operations at scale?
- What accountability mechanisms exist for political leaders who knowingly accept Russian influence?
- Is Moldova's successful defense of its election unique, or can other targeted countries replicate that model?
- Yesterday
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Russian intelligence (GRU) has conducted training camps in Serbia to prepare specialized units for election interference in Moldova. The campaign utilizes vote-buying and tactical drills to influence the country’s Western-leaning government. https://www. nytimes.com/2026/08/14/world/e urope/russia-moldova-putin.html # Ukraine # Russia # Moldova
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Yes, and despite the warnings almost nobody in Ukraine believed the threat to be existential even a few days before the operation started. Russia didn't archive their objectives. They still brought unbelievable and continuing suffering to all of Ukraine. Whatever stupid things they're up to, it is already very damaging to us even if they may…
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I don't put the blame on just Putin. There are several very powerful people and groups who benefit greatly from a disjointed world. We must remain incredibly vigilant.
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. If Donald Trump was intentionally trying to weaken the United States But he can't do it alone... Half of the administration must be directly or indirectly on the Russian payrol
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How can this be considered fresh information? Russia has been having the KGB carrying out those orders; starting a few decades ago.
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Putin publicly accused European leaders of "stoking hysteria" over Russia. Soon after, in a secret briefing, he set a goal for 2026: "the collapse of NATO and the EU from within," officials from two countries told the NYT. Moldova is central to the plan. https:// meduza.io/en/feature/2026/08/1…
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“The Russian campaign reportedly intensified ahead of Moldova’s parliamentary election in September 2025, when Moscow allegedly sought to weaken Sandu’s pro-European Action and Solidarity party. Moldovan authorities carried out hundreds of raids before the vote and arrested people linked to the training camps and alleged vote-buying operation…
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V NYTimes Why Moldova Is Central to Putin’s Goal of Wrecking NATO https://www. nytimes.com/2026/08/14/world/e urope/russia-moldova-putin.html?unlocked_article_code=1.5VA.CVMY.2FqIcqx1s5W6&smid=nytcore-android-share # GiftLink
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⚡️ Putin has set a goal for 2026: undermine the EU and NATO from within According to The New York Times, the plan was discussed at a closed-door meeting with Russian military and intelligence officials. Moldova is central to the Kremlin’s plans. Russia reportedly wants to use
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Same orders he gave Trump and all the congressmen who went to Moscow July 4 2018.
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He's taking credit for something that has been festering for many years with and without the current administration
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❗️putin ordered russia’s intelligence services to “destroy NATO and the EU from within” in 2026, according to The New York Times. According to the report, putin held a secret meeting with intelligence officials and the military in December 2025, tasking them with weakening NATO
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the way the end of the USSR / Eastern Bloc was handled. It was a shitshow where, once again, the common people were fucked over.
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That wouldn’t be in the interest of the United States, we need our allies and they need us…see Iran conflict for reference….stop the tariffs, stop the empty threats and f••king fix it before it’s too late.
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Politicians that take Russian money are not naive, they know exactly what the plan is. And I am not naive enough to believe they will ever really be punished, which I guess is why they sell out their countries without blushing. I used to look at those cages hanging outside medieval castles where people would be placed to rot away in public view…
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those guys are wiping ass bare handed. I don't think anyone is destroying anything but sheets of Pravda newspaper
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News from Moldova "In the tiny nation, Moscow paid Orthodox priests, conducted a vote-buying scheme and set up training camps on election interference — all in an effort to derail the Western-leaning government." https://www. nytimes.com/2026/08/14/world/e urope/russia-moldova-putin.html?smid=nytcore-android-share
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KYIV POST: Putin Ordered Kremlin to ‘Destroy NATO and EU From Within’ – NYT https://www. kyivpost.com/post/82357 Moldova is emerging as a key target in Russia’s reported strategy to undermine NATO and the EU, with Western intelligence warning that Vladimir Putin could seek control of the country after Ukraine. Its strategic location, Russian…