$500 and a trip abroad: How recruits end up in Russian sabotage training camps

Moldovan prosecutors identified Anatoli Prizenco as a key recruiter who offered young men paid trips to training camps in Bosnia and Serbia where they learned drone piloting, handling incendiary devices, protest evasion, and medical aid. The camps operated near Banja Luka, with instructors linked to Russia's Wagner mercenary group. Over 80 suspects are under investigation for fomenting disorder, with 20 indicted. The network extended beyond Moldova, involving destabilization acts such as graffiti attacks in Paris and interference in elections. Moldovan officials link these activities to broader Russian hybrid warfare efforts including disinformation spread, cyberattacks, vote-buying, and assassination plots targeting Ukrainian public figures. Participants often paid via cryptocurrency and included young recruits, some with EU passports. Moldova sees itself as a frontline in defending Europe from Russian hybrid threats. The Kremlin denies responsibility while European countries document similar interference ahead of elections.