Moldova's former General Staff chief leaks secret information on Ukraine to Russian military intelligence

Investigative journalists from The Insider and Malenkaya Strana obtained Telegram exchanges between former Chief of the Moldovan General Staff Igor Gorgan and his Russian handler, Colonel Alexey Makarov of the GRU. Gorgan, a former Soviet officer, served as Moldova's General Staff Chief twice, with contacts with Russian intelligence dating back to 2004. Their communication intensified after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

According to their correspondence, the GRU was particularly interested in the weaponry Kyiv was procuring from neighboring countries, including Moldova. Gorgan reports: UkrOboronExport is attempting to purchase (or take away with the help of ‘partners”) 6 [MiG-29 fighters] located in Marculesti, Moldova. They are insisting heavily. The planes are still in place for now. They intend to carry out the operation through a front company from the United Arab Emirates in the near future."

Gorgan reported to the GRU on visits by representatives of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, who were purchasing military equipment and ammunition, as well as on fuel transportation to Ukraine and military cargoes from Romania. He also provided data on the internal political situation in the country. Gorgan despises President Maia Sandu and anticipates a Russian military invasion of Moldova: “We urgently need to cleanse the country of all fascist abominations! Many are ready. Tell them... The time has come. I have the whole situation in the army under control... Fortunately, there is no Azov and other national formations here, and we will deal with politicians quickly.”

Here are a few more messages from Gorgan:

"Railway trains with fuel depart from Moldovan territory, specifically from the village of Etyulia, to the Ukrainian settlement of Reni. Fuel trains only move at night, staying put during the day to avoid becoming targets for the Russian Aerospace Forces."

"Ukrainians have been coming to our Ministry of Defense for three weeks straight, requesting everything, especially artillery shells."

"We need to quickly close the border with Romania! It's a big loophole! A lot of cargo, especially military cargo, comes from there to Ukraine. Some military factories in Romania are still operational and producing weapons and ammunition."

On the eve of the mass expulsion of Russian diplomats from Moldova in July 2023, Gorgan ceased communication with Makarov and sought refuge at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR-Moldova) office in Chisinau. This agency registers refugees from Ukraine. Gorgan is involved in delivering humanitarian aid to Ukrainian children.