Moldovan TV director advises Finland: stay united, Russia tries to divide nation

The head of Moldovan television channel TVR, Nicolae Mocanu, on Wednesday urged Finland to remain vigilant and united, warning that Russia aims to divide societies and will not stop at Ukraine. Speaking at the Circom international television conference in Tampere, Mocanu said Moldova faces daily cyberattacks and aggressive disinformation as part of a broader information war, as reported by Yle.

Mocanu described Moldova as highly vulnerable, being in the middle of a geopolitical battleground between Russia and the West. He stressed the need for close cooperation with European countries to counter disinformation. The conference gathered broadcasters from across Europe to discuss strategies against Russian propaganda.

According to Mocanu, internet platforms are crucial in the fight against influence operations. TVR Moldova puts all its television content online to reach large audiences, particularly teenagers through short videos, to maintain critical thinking. The broadcaster also cooperates with Ukrainian media to provide Russian-language content for Moldova’s Russian-speaking population.

Mocanu warned that Russia seeks to install puppet politicians in Moldova to destabilise Ukraine from the rear. He pointed to Transnistria, a breakaway pro-Russian region on Ukraine’s border that hosts Russian troops and hidden weapons, which Moscow may use at some point. Despite its self-declared independence, no country, including Russia, recognises Transnistria.

Mocanu, who previously served as an adviser in the Romanian prime minister’s office, said Russia is quick to adapt its influence tactics. He urged Finland to stay united and not assume Russia’s aggression ends with Ukraine. Moldova, with fewer than three million inhabitants, began EU accession negotiations in 2024.