Posted on 09/29/2025 4:08:06 AM PDT by marcusmaximus
Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov on Monday claimed that hundreds of thousands of Moldovan citizens living in Russia were denied the opportunity to participate in Moldova’s parliamentary elections, alleging that Chisinau provided only two polling stations across the Russian Federation.
“From what we see and know, we can confirm that hundreds of thousands of Moldovans were deprived of the opportunity to vote in the Russian Federation due to the fact that only two polling stations were open to them, which, naturally, was insufficient and could not allow everyone to vote. This is something we can simply state,” Peskov told reporters at the Kremlin, cited by the state-run Tass news agency.
He further accused the Moldovan authorities of blocking engagement with Moscow, which he said makes any discussion of a settlement in the breakaway region of Transnistria nearly impossible.
“Regarding a settlement, it’s a very, very complex issue. With the current Moldovan leadership as our counterpart, of course, it’s very difficult, almost impossible, to talk about it right now. I’m referring to a Moldovan leadership that effectively rules out dialogue with the Russian Federation,” he said.
The Kremlin spokesman added that while the situation in Transnistria remains “quite calm,” the risk of provocations cannot be excluded.
“We see that the situation there is currently quite calm. But at the same time, of course, the threat of provocations cannot be ruled out,” Peskov noted.
(Excerpt) Read more at aa.com.tr ...
Yes, Ukraine has conducted multiple drone attacks targeting Moscow and its surrounding areas as part of its ongoing military operations against Russian infrastructure and air defenses during the Russo-Ukrainian War. These strikes have escalated in frequency and scale throughout 2025, with several reported in September alone. Russian authorities have intercepted most drones, but some have caused disruptions, minor damage, and casualties. Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for every incident but has confirmed broader campaigns against Russian energy and military targets, including pipelines feeding Moscow.
### Key Recent Incidents (September 2025):
- **September 28–29**: Ukrainian forces launched their largest drone barrage on Moscow since March, with Russian air defenses downing at least 44 drones approaching the city overnight. The Russian Defense Ministry reported intercepting over 150 drones across multiple regions, including Moscow Oblast, with no major damage reported in the capital but temporary airport closures.
- **September 23–24**: At least 46 Ukrainian drones were shot down en route to Moscow, part of a major barrage that also targeted annexed Crimea and the Black Sea. Air traffic at Moscow’s airports was suspended, and power outages occurred in nearby Belgorod Oblast.
- **September 22–23**: Dozens of drones struck Moscow throughout the night, leading to the interception of 69 over nine Russian regions, including Moscow Oblast. Airports were closed, and Russian media reported substation damage in Belgorod.
### Broader Context:
- Ukraine’s strategy focuses on “systematically” degrading Russia’s military and economic capabilities, including fuel supplies to Moscow via pipelines and refineries. For instance, on September 14, Ukraine hit Russia’s second-largest refinery (Kinef), disrupting diesel flows to the capital.
- On September 25, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy explicitly threatened strikes on Kremlin leadership if Russia does not end the war, stating they would need bomb shelters but emphasizing no civilian targets.
- Earlier in September (e.g., September 10), Ukraine launched 144 drones—the war’s largest single attack on Moscow—damaging homes and killing two people.
- These actions occur amid intensified Russian retaliatory strikes on Ukrainian cities like Kyiv, where nearly 600 drones and missiles killed at least four on September 28.
Russia portrays these as terrorist acts, while Ukraine frames them as legitimate defense against invasion. No ground incursions or missile strikes directly on central Moscow (e.g., the Kremlin) have been confirmed, but drone incursions represent a form of aerial attack. The situation remains fluid, with both sides escalating long-range operations.
“Russia has been fighting aimlessly for three and a half years a War that should have taken a Real Military Power less than a week to win. This is not distinguishing Russia. In fact, it is very much making them look like “a paper tiger.”
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/11525513029810
And 30% of Transnistria voted for the pro-EU party in yesterday’s election.
You’re on a roll. Is it caffeine?
Yes.
15:36 GMTA Moldovan Information and Security Service employee has been detained in Moscow with two bags of ballots stamped for the ruling party, according to Igor Khlopetsky, a representative of the Greater Moldova party, which was barred from participating in the elections just a few days ago.
“He is a relative of the former head of the Border Police, PAS protege Rosian Vasiloi. He was detained by Russian authorities with two bags of ballots stamped for the ruling party. Dear citizens, the elections are being rigged,” Khlopetsky said.
Neither confirmed nor denied by any other news sources that I've been able to find.
Also, Moldova’s electoral commission on Friday barred two pro-Russian parties from participating in this weekend’s tense parliamentary election, due to illegal financing by Russian interests.
And:
Polls CLOSE in Moldova
No more ballots being accepted – but long lines at polling stations in Moscow and bridge from Transnistria opened only 20 minutes before closing time
Chants of 'WE WANT TO VOTE' heard in queue in Moscow https://t.co/vbjP8xmfhq pic.twitter.com/1oS4bnXU4D
— RT (@RT_com) September 28, 2025
One should also note that in the referendum on applying for EU membership there was a large majority for a NO among the voters living in Moldova, but the huge number of postal votes from abroad secured a win for a YES. As 54.62% of voters residing permanently in Moldova voted "no", the voters living abroad were ultimately decisive in the final outcome.
I find this very sad. I am not naïve and it is more than likely that Russia has tried to affect this and previous elections. However, to win elections in this way opens the way for new conflicts. Have the EU/NATO not learned anything from what happened in Ukraine 2013/2014?
This was a big L for Putin. Now he flew to Belarus today to whine to Lukashenko.
I don’t really care if it was a big L for Putin. But it may turn out to be an even bigger L for the Moldovians.
(In all likelihood the governing party would have won without any untoward election interference, but they just had to make sure. Unfortunately that may have long term consequences in Moldovia and elsewhere.)
The fact that EU is supporting this type of election interference is a VERY BIG L for us who happens to live in EU countries where elections used to be non-corrupted.
Already 2023 the EU formed the EUPM (EU partnership Mission) for Moldavia with a budget of ca €20 million. This has of course been enlarged during the two intervening years.
https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eupm-moldova/about-eu-partnership-mission-republic-moldova_en?s=410318
Moldova will join the EU before Ukraine does.
Bummer
The poorest country in Europe with a rampant corruption. Exactly what we need!
Also, is an EU membership good for Moldova?
A passage from a recent pro-EU article in a pro-EU Swedish newspaper (I'm surprised that they kept it in):
– We cannot export to the EU because we do not have the certificates they require. It was much easier to export to Russia, says apple grower Cristina Crudu to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
But don't worry, the political and adminstrative elite in Moldova will not suffer if their country is allowed to join the EU.
Hell yes! Standard of living in EU is much higher, than in Russia
Hell yes! Standard of living in EU is much higher, than in Russia
Hell yes! Standard of living in EU is much higher, than in Russia
To quote one of our best ever slalom skiers:
“It is so difficult to explain to people who don’t understand.”
Re-read my last post, and try to do better!
:-)
Funny how they’re Moldovans when living in Russia but Russians in need of protection when living in Moldova.
The European Union and its "member states" is a political consortium which began as a shared market. It has become bureaucratically top heavy and very expensive, as the "political and administrative elite" as you mention have worked to get an ever nicer "rent" for themselves while the "little guy" will experience the turmoil.
Reading the less noted news of discussion about financial crises growing in the EU and the UK (as Labour tries to angle their way back into it before the next elections), it seems a race against time for these "political and administrative elite" to grab at the EuroClear Russian funds, as at "billions" in fines aimed at US companies, and more. The EU is not a nation, but acts as if it were.
"...deep structural transformations related to aging populations, high energy costs, and technological change. Europe's economy is affected by these developments as it has only now begun to recover from recent shocks, its public spending needs are rising, public debt is high, and medium-term growth prospects are weak. The April 2025 outlook presents a downgrade in growth rates for the region, alongside a faster approach of inflation to targets. Risks to the outlook are to the downside and relate to a worsening of trade disputes and uncertainty."Regional Economic Outlook for Europe, April 2025 IMF, 25 April 2025
IMF Sounds Stagnation Alarm on Euro-Zone Economic Growth Bloomberg, 18 June 2025
Europe's Debt (Un)Sustainability: Looking Through Bohn’s Magnifying Glass 4 April 2025
It surely seems, aside from the arm-chair generals on these forums, that there is a race on, called who breaks first. Between US national debt at about 120% of GDP according to today's Fed webpage, reports that Russia is supposedly in financial problems, and similar reports about the larger EU nations supposedly in financial problems, it seems the game of "who breaks first" will be economic and political in the local sense, not militarily.
The "political and administrative elite" are being pushed back at by their own citizenry. Imagine that.... Consider recent news in France:
‘Our voices just aren't heard’: ‘Block Everything’ protesters meet heavy police response in Paris France 24, 10 September 2025.The EU as a political entity is not effective in the above, though its mantra is always "more Europe." With what resources? Green economic delusions? Illegal migration costs? And yet with all the "shared European values," civil unrest builds.France's streets ablaze as antigovernment protests disrupt daily life AlJazeera, 11 September 2025
'Block Everything' protests sweep across France, scores arrested Reuters via MSN, 10 September 2025
France faces £2.85TRILLION 'debt explosion' meltdown Daily Mail, 27 August 2025
Crisis-prone France sinks deeper into debt quagmire Reuters, 9 September 2025
It's the "political and administrative elite" not heeding their own citizenry breeding must civil unrest. I suspect that "political and administrative elite" will be the first to break in the end.
Here in the US we often overlook the influence of immigrants on the elections of the countries they left.
Club For Growth President Fox won the Mexican election due to immigrants in the US voting for him.
Social Conservative President Calderon won the Mexican election due to immigrants in the US voting for him.
There were two Chechen wars and the West didn't left a finger to help the Chechens. Why? Because Chechnya was an internationally recognized part of the Russian Federation.
It would be nice if Russia respected the same rules.
If you want to argue Realpolitik, Russia is a washed up power that isn't entitled to the "sphere of influence" it claims, and its weakness is the cause of the instability.
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