Europe

On September 26, 2025, Moldova held parliamentary elections that were widely framed as a defining moment for the country. Would Moldova be pulled back into the Russian sphere of influence, or would it solidify its path towards European Union membership and affirm its independence from Moscow? Many feared Russian interference would lead to a skewed election and cause Moldova to follow Georgia’s current path of democratic recession. The election resulted in the pro-EU. The Party of Action and Solidarity (P.A.S.) won just over 50% of the vote, giving them an outright majority in parliament.

Far-right political movements in England have grown in recent years as the social, security, and economic landscape has moved toward anxiety and polarization. Large-scale rallies are no longer rare events, but have become more and more common in England’s largest cities; coming to a head most recently in the “Unite the Kingdom” march, where 110,000 people met in Whitehall, London, to oppose both immigration and what they view as an abandonment of the common man [1]. Digital mobilization, the surge of misinformation, and the involvement of controversial figures like Tommy Robinson (head of the English Defence League, a far-right, anti-jihadi group) and Elon Musk have given previously small, fringe groups an unimaginable reach, allowing them to spread their message through mainstream and alternative channels [2].

Although first becoming active years before Russia’s “special military operation”, Wagner Group, the private military contractor and parastatal arm of the Russian military has become increasingly visible since the invasion of Ukraine. The PMC is a convenient asset for the Kremlin, however recent critical comments made by Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin about top Russian military leadership indicate developing growing pains in the relationship between the Russian government and Wagner Group.

As the world approaches the one year anniversary of the Ukraine and Russian War, Russia is indicating they have no intention to step back any time soon. In light of the extensive sanctions against Russian interests, people, and their ability to conduct international banking, President Vladimir V. Putin has linked Russia’s banking system to the same banking institutions as Iran.