19 May, 09:02
When a marginal politician from a small European country suddenly begins to talk about territorial claims on Ukraine, the default reaction is to shrug. But when this politician is a client of a fugitive oligarch living in Russia — and when the claims are a carbon copy of Kremlin propaganda — it’s time to pay attention.
Welcome to the curious case of Victoria Furturne, a little-known Moldovan political figure who recently made headlines by declaring that Moldova should “reclaim” the Budjak region — a southwestern part of Ukraine’s Odesa Oblast — on the grounds that no international treaty has formally recognized its transfer to Ukraine.
A ludicrous proposition? Undoubtedly. But also a classic Kremlin playbook move.
🔍 Who is Victoria Furturne?
Furturne ran in Moldova’s 2024 presidential election and garnered only 4.45% of the vote. Politically irrelevant by any standard, she suddenly re-emerged as the head of a fringe party called Great Moldova, which is financed by Ilan Shor — a convicted oligarch who fled Moldova and now resides in Russia under the protection of the Kremlin.
Shor is no stranger to subversive politics. He has long been used by Moscow to cultivate pro-Russian narratives in Moldova. His party was recently banned due to national security concerns. Now, Furturne appears to be a new puppet on the same stage, channeling irredentist nostalgia into dangerous geopolitical rhetoric.
🧠 The Budjak Fantasy
The narrative is absurd on its face. Moldova has never exercised modern sovereignty over Budjak, which became part of Ukraine during Soviet times. There is no serious political movement within Moldova advocating for this territory. Most Moldovans are focused on economic survival, anti-corruption, and European integration — not war with a neighboring country that’s already fighting for its existence.
Yet Furturne — with maps, speeches, and choreographed outrage — calls for Moldova to “restore access to the sea” by seizing Ukrainian land. Notably, she doesn’t say a word about Transnistria — the Russian-occupied territory within Moldova’s internationally recognized borders. Her silence speaks volumes.
This is not about Moldova’s interests. It’s about Russia’s.
🧩 The Kremlin Pattern: Divide and Destabilize
Furturne is just another node in the Kremlin’s wider network of low-intensity disruption campaigns. The method is familiar:
- In Hungary, Viktor Orbán rattles sabers over Hungarian minorities in Ukraine’s Zakarpattia region.
- In Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić refuses to recognize Kosovo and plays the Balkan spoiler.
- In Georgia, pro-Russian voices sow division under the guise of nationalism.
- And now, in Moldova, Furturne echoes a Russian talking point in hopes of inciting a Ukrainian-Moldovan rift.
Moscow rarely makes demands directly. It outsources provocation to proxies — “concerned citizens,” rogue mayors, fringe party leaders. This lets the Kremlin test reactions, internationalize conflict narratives, and avoid direct accountability.
🎯 Why Budjak? Why Now?
Moscow is looking for new pressure points on Ukraine’s borders. With Russia bogged down militarily, and international support for Ukraine holding (albeit shakily), the Kremlin’s hybrid war is pivoting once again to information warfare and peripheral destabilization.
Budjak — a multiethnic region historically inhabited by Ukrainians, Bulgarians, Gagauz, and Moldovans — is fertile ground for identity-based manipulation. By framing it as “disputed,” Furturne and her handlers hope to:
- Legitimize Russian claims about Ukraine’s internal instability
- Create friction between Kyiv and Chișinău
- Distract from Russian occupation in Transnistria
- Manufacture “proof” that Ukraine’s borders are open to interpretation
It’s not meant to succeed in policy terms. It’s meant to infect the discourse.
🛑 The Good News: No One’s Buying It
Fortunately, Furturne is a fringe figure. Her statements were met with ridicule in Moldova and indifference in international forums. Moldova’s pro-European government has no intention of antagonizing Ukraine, which remains a key partner in security and energy.
But the danger lies not in Furturne herself — but in the strategy she represents.
If left unanswered, such provocations can grow. Ukraine has seen this movie before: from Crimea to Donbas, what began as “local concerns” quickly metastasized into full-blown invasion.
✅ What Should Be Done?
1. Clear and rapid diplomatic response. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry must publicly rebuke Furturne’s statements — not to dignify her, but to close the information loop. Silence only emboldens provocateurs.
2. Moldovan civil society should speak out. Pro-European voices must make it clear that Moldova wants peace, not revisionism. Furturne does not speak for the people.
3. Media must connect the dots. Journalists need to treat this not as an isolated soundbite, but as part of Russia’s evolving hybrid aggression strategy.
4. NATO and the EU must stay vigilant. Russia is looking for new fronts — not in terms of tanks, but in narratives. Moldova is increasingly in the crosshairs.
Final Thought
Russia feeds on war, chaos, and blurred lines. Budjak, like Crimea once was, is a testing ground. If the world doesn’t call this out for what it is — a cynical act of geopolitical sabotage — the next “Furturne” will come with a military uniform.
Not every fire starts with artillery. Some begin with words.
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