During the summer of 2024, Moldovan citizens were secretly trained to operate drones in paramilitary camps located in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), with instructors reportedly connected to the Russian private military organization “Wagner”, as revealed by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN).

BIRN, in collaboration with the Moldovan investigative entity CU SENS, found that Moldovans were instructed in defensive tactics by Russian nationals associated with the Wagner Group—individuals sanctioned by the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom, and the United States (US) in light of the upcoming presidential elections in Moldova.

Last October, around twelve Moldovan individuals were apprehended in connection with this training, with the Chisinau Prosecutor’s Office asserting that they were plotting to incite mass unrest during and after the presidential elections.

In Moldova’s presidential elections, pro-European candidate Maia Sandu emerged victorious against Aleksandar Stoyanov, who was endorsed by pro-Russian factions. Following the elections, the European Commission reported significant Russian interference in the electoral process.

Legal cases pertaining to the training camps have been initiated by prosecutors in both Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina, noting that these training sessions took place from August to October 2024, focusing on drone operation techniques.

The Chisinau Prosecutor’s Office stated that Moldovans visited Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina on two occasions, during which their phones and passports were confiscated, limiting their movement.

Maksim Roska, one of the participants arrested, informed BIRN that the instructors initially withheld the purpose of their training, later revealing it was meant for self-defense. He also mentioned that participants were promised compensation ranging from $300 to $500, paid in cryptocurrency.

The locations cited for the training included Glamočani, near Banja Luka, and Radenka, adjacent to the Serbian border with Romania, revealed during hearings in Moldova.

Following the October arrests, Serbian media reported that the Security and Information Agency (BIA), in collaboration with the police, “terminated illegal activities on a rural property near Kučevo”, discovering multiple drones, satellite communication gear, and various flammable materials.

A trial has commenced involving at least four Moldovan citizens, with many of the defendants choosing to remain silent or denying participation in the camps.

The Russian Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina recently took to Facebook, asserting that accusations against Moscow are a product of “Western propaganda”.

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