Ukrainians in Moldova most vulnerable to Russian propaganda ahead of parliamentary elections

Ukrainians residing in neighboring Moldova remain highly vulnerable to Russian propaganda, especially during the period leading up to this weekend’s parliamentary elections, said Dmitrii Lecartev, who heads the National Congress of Ukrainians in Moldova (NCUM), in an interview with state broadcaster Suspilne.

Ukrainians are currently the largest ethnic minority in Moldova, but they live in a “ vacuum” that has molded “due to the absence of a national policy for cooperation with ethnic minorities and involving them in state-building processes,” he said. 

He added that Russia exploited the poverty that some people endure “and their susceptibility to manipulation.” 

Lecartev said that this community perceives events in Ukraine and around the world almost entirely through the lens of pro-Russian narratives.

Ukrainians in Moldova often lack media literacy and are devoid of critical thought processes. 

“They don’t have the ability to view these matters objectively or analyze them. Kremlin-backed TV channels like Rossiya-1 and RTR are all freely available to them,” Lecartev said.

Parliamentary elections in Moldova are scheduled for Sept. 28. According to Bloomberg, the Kremlin has developed a plan to interfere in the vote and will attempt to undermine the country’s efforts to join the EU.

Earlier, Lekartsev also discussed the potential consequences of such interference.