Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly ordered his intelligence services and military to work toward “destroying NATO and the EU from within” in 2026, with Moldova emerging as a key target in the Kremlin’s strategy, The New York Times reported. Friday’s report, based on officials from two countries familiar with a secret December 2025 meeting, says Moscow is pursuing the strategy on at least two fronts: testing NATO’s willingness to defend its members and destabilizing Moldova.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. US intelligence has assessed that Russia could seek to test NATO’s resolve as early as this fall through a limited attack on an alliance member. Possible scenarios range from cyberattacks and sabotage to operations involving unidentified armed groups or a limited incursion into a NATO country on the alliance’s eastern flank. But Moldova could offer Moscow a different route to destabilizing Europe. Why Moldova matters Western intelligence officials told the NYT that conquering Ukraine remains Putin’s top priority, while establishing control over Moldova is reportedly second. Moscow’s strategic goal, according to the officials, goes beyond political influence in Chisinau. Putin is still believed to want to seize southern Ukraine and create a land corridor connecting Russia to Moldova. That would put Moldova – a small country of about 2.4 million people wedged between Ukraine and NATO and EU territory – in an extremely vulnerable position.