Russia is preparing new information operations aimed at destabilizing the situation in the Western Balkans, said research fellow Ivana Stradner from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), as reported by TVP World.
According to her, the Kremlin sees this region as a vulnerable area for undermining European stability following its failed attempts to destabilize Moldova. The expert emphasized that Moscow actively uses propaganda and disinformation to incite conflicts between ethnic and political groups in order to weaken Western influence and strengthen its own position in the Balkans.
Stradner noted that local elections in Kosovo are geopolitically significant, as their outcome could affect the balance of power in the region. She warned that Russia might use controlled media and influence networks to spread false narratives, exacerbate internal divisions, and undermine trust in the electoral process. She stressed that protecting elections from external interference is not only a matter of national security but of European-wide security.
The expert also added that Russia’s disinformation campaigns are becoming increasingly sophisticated, combining propaganda, cyberattacks, and social media manipulation. She stressed that Western countries need to strengthen cooperation in cybersecurity and counter-disinformation efforts to prevent Moscow’s destructive influence on political processes in the region.
