{"id":13494,"date":"2025-09-22T10:27:05","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T07:27:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/?p=13494"},"modified":"2025-09-22T10:31:21","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T07:31:21","slug":"video-kremlins-digital-army-ii-crypto-salaries-the-comrade-and-the-enemy-a-zdg-undercover-investigation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/video-kremlins-digital-army-ii-crypto-salaries-the-comrade-and-the-enemy-a-zdg-undercover-investigation\/","title":{"rendered":"VIDEO\/ Kremlin\u2019s Digital Army (II). Crypto salaries, the comrade and the enemy. A ZdG undercover investigation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>In the last months, a troll network funded directly from Moscow, called \u201cInfoLider\u201d, has expanded, and on the eve and throughout the campaign for parliamentary elections on September 28, it intensified its attacks with propagandistic narratives on social media. Ziarul de Gard\u0103 continued to follow the operations of \u201cKremlin\u2019s digital army\u201d undercover.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p><strong>In this (new) undercover investigation we reveal how hundreds of mercenaries, enrolled in \u201cKremlin\u2019s digital army\u201d, were divided into three legions: North, South and Center, how they are paid directly from Moscow with monthly salaries ranging between 600 and 3000 lei, in rubles via Promsviazbank, in euros directly onto Moldovan bank cards or in virtual currency through crypto accounts; how, in the midst of the electoral campaign, the \u201cinfoliders\u201d shifted from \u201cVictorie\u201d bloc to Victoria\u2019s party, yet remained in Moscow\u2019s service. Lastly, how their propaganda cannons targeted a single electoral candidate.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ZdG journalist M\u0103riu\u021ba Nistor infiltrated the network using a pseudonym \u2013 Ludmila. For her activity in the network, she was rewarded twice in cryptocurrency, amounting approximately 130 US dollars. She received the second payment in the middle of the electoral campaign \u2013 just two weeks prior to elections and on the day the new comrade of Shor\u2019s funded network was announced.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"youtubewrapper\"><div class='whatever'><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Armata digital\u0103 a Kremlinului (II). Salarii \u00een crypto, partidul prieten \u0219i inamicul declarat\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TbZf7GLJKpY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>ZdG journalist, Natalia Zaharescu\u2019s experience in the \u201cInfoLider\u201d project, ended in the middle of March 2025. However, ZdG kept documenting this network, financed directly from Moscow, from the inside. Its mission? To attack Moldova\u2019s informational space with Russian propagandistic narratives, targeting the parliamentary elections on September 28.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The training: the fourth generation of communication activists<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In April 2025, the \u201cInfoLider\u201d project, used to coordinate the bombardment of Moldova\u2019s&nbsp; information space with propagandistic narratives, was in full swing. Recruitment of participants in the activist training program, through which participants could later be promoted as \u201cinfoliders\u201d, continued. This was an opportunity for M\u0103riu\u021ba Nistor to join the program. The journalist was included in a group called \u201cTraining of Communication Activists 4\u201d, which eventually grew to 260 members and trained the fourth generation of \u201cVictorie\u201d bloc\u2019s communication activists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Captura-de-ecran-din-2025-09-18-la-09.49.26-1-740x518.png\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The training began on April 8, 2025 and was conducted in the format described in the first part of the investigation \u201cKremlin&#8217;s Digital Army\u201d: a mix of lessons and assignments.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The group remains accessible to this day, although the training program ended in July 2025. However, not before the ZdG journalist was promoted from the training phase into the \u201cInfoLider\u201d project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><br><\/strong><strong>The promotion: from the training program to the \u201cInfoLider\u201d project<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Although M\u0103riu\u021ba Nistor attended every call within the training program for responsible communication activists, she refrained from engaging in group discussions or completing any of the assigned tasks, in order to avoid further contamination of Moldova\u2019s information space with propagandistic content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On May 14, M\u0103riu\u021ba Nistor, under the alias \u201cLudmila\u201d, received an invitation to join the \u201dInfoLider\u201d project. This message was sent by \u201cEva Sergheevna\u201d. The offer of \u201cenlistment\u201d came with promises of payment, disguised using emojis \u2013 apples and candies. The same message revealed that the role of curator for the entire project was held by a figure known as \u201cAdam\u201d, a name also mentioned in the first part of the investigation \u201cKremlin\u2019s Digital Army,\u201d published by Ziarul de Gard\u0103<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em><br><\/em><\/strong><strong><em>\u201cThe minimum you can receive is 600 lei\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAdam\u201d suggested to the ZdG journalist that she speak with someone named \u201cMagda Semionovna,\u201d who initiated the conversation with financial promises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cUsually, we transfer bonuses via PSB. But there\u2019s also the cryptocurrency option. That depends on your preference. If you\u2019re willing to receive payment in cryptocurrency, that\u2019s possible. However, since it involves crypto, it\u2019s important to note that we also receive very different rates. Meaning, we can\u2019t send more than 2300 lei in cryptocurrency,\u201d<\/em> \u201cMagda Semionovna\u201d told M\u0103riu\u021ba Nistor.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Later, she explained how the work would be organized and how payment would be calculated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cWe have a monthly plan \u2014 let\u2019s say, 100 posts. That would be considered 100% of the work. If you publish 81 posts, meaning between 81% and 100%, you can receive 3000 lei. If you complete between 61 and 80 posts, that amounts to 2800 lei, or 60 \u2013 80 percent. So, the fewer tasks you complete, the fewer posts you make, the lower \u2014 let\u2019s say \u2014 your bonus will be. The minimum you can receive is 600 lei, if you complete at least between 30% and 40%,\u201d <\/em>added \u201cMagda Semionovna.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>After discussing payment, the curator also described the project, including its latest updates \u2014 the introduction of a new posting format: individually created content, which they called \u201cpersonal,\u201d intended to give the appearance of an authentic profile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cOur project is called \u2018InfoLider.\u2019 We actively communicate about what\u2019s happening in the world and show what\u2019s going on so that people who, we assume, don\u2019t understand, can see, read, and learn the rest. We mainly use Facebook and TikTok. There are two types of tasks. Recently, we switched to a new format \u2014 there are tasks we sent you in the form and there are personal tasks. These involve you choosing the topic for the post yourself,\u201d<\/em> the curator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the same conversation, \u201cMagda Semionovna\u201d assured the ZdG journalist that the project guarantees confidentiality and that there would be no physical interactions, only virtual ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cOur work is entirely remote, we work from home, only on social media, nothing more. We don\u2019t meet, we don\u2019t do anything else, just this type of interaction. If you have questions, you ask the curator and they\u2019ll solve them. Or during a group call,\u201d<\/em> she emphasized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After the ZdG journalist mentioned she was from the Gagauz region, \u201cMagda Semionovna\u201d introduced her virtually to the person responsible for that region \u2014 \u201cMihail Alexandrovich.\u201d This revealed that there are multiple coordination groups for \u201cInfoLiders,\u201d organized by region and managed by different curators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That same day, the ZdG journalist messaged the person who identified himself as Mihail Alexandrovich, a figure known from a previous Ziarul de Gard\u0103 investigation. On June 7, 2025, after passing through his \u201cfilters,\u201d M\u0103riu\u021ba Nistor, alias \u201cLudmila\u201d, received instructions for registering in the Telegram chatbot, where her \u201cInfoLider\u201d activity would be tracked, along with an invitation link to the \u201cInfoLider Sud\u201d (South) Telegram channel \u2014 a private channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><br><\/strong><strong>An analysis of the \u201cInfoLider Sud\u201d channel<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once she accessed the link, the ZdG journalist began to analyze the activity carried out in the channel prior to her joining. She discovered that the group was created on January 22, 2025, but remained inactive until January 31, 2025, when the \u201cfirst training session\u201d took place. That marked the official launch of the project. Several days of training and assigned tasks followed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Captura-de-ecran-din-2025-09-18-la-09.57.39-1-740x478.png\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In March, the \u201cInfoLiders\u201d launched an information attack on Moldova\u2019s digital space with videos criticizing the \u201cchange\u201d of the official language from Moldovan to Romanian, or with posts claiming that the Red Army \u201cliberated Moldova from the Romanian regime.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In April, the most significant information attacks focused on narratives suggesting that the United States would no longer support Moldova and that Moldova was arming itself in preparation for war. Also in April, taking advantage of the controversy surrounding the Amnesty Law, the troll network controlled from Moscow further inflamed the topic. One of the assigned tasks was to create posts conveying the idea that \u201cPAS is releasing the most dangerous criminals and serial killers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In May, as Moldova celebrated Europe Day, the Kremlin\u2019s digital army countered with posts highlighting Russia\u2019s role in \u201cliberating the world from fascism\u201d and criticizing the authorities\u2019 decision to celebrate Europe Day. Another heavily circulated narrative during that period was that Moldova\u2019s intention to join the European Union would drag the country into war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, one day after the presidential elections in Romania, the \u201cKremlin\u2019s digital army\u201d addressed the topic of George Simion, a candidate for Romania\u2019s presidency. <em>\u201cSimion lost. More evidence of foreign interference in the elections. Simion was not a convenient presidential candidate for the EU and globalists. The Moldovan scenario is repeating. People vote for one, but another wins\u201d<\/em> \u2014 this was the message the \u201cInfoLiders\u201d were instructed to spread across social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Salary increases: \u201c<em>We will receive about 20% more in bonuses\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Chronologically, we arrive at the beginning of June, the moment when M\u0103riu\u021ba Nistor joined the group. Shortly after joining, on June 14, she participated in an organizational meeting \u2014 the first one for June \u2014 moderated by the curator who introduced himself as \u201cMihail Alexandrovich.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The discussion began with project updates \u2014 the introduction of posts they call \u201cpersonal,\u201d a type of content previously mentioned by \u201cMagda Semionovna\u201d during the \u201cjob interview\u201d with the ZdG journalist for the \u201cInfoLider\u201d project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cColleagues, this month it\u2019s very important to complete all the tasks we publish, but also \u2014 or rather \u2014 to publish personal posts, let\u2019s say, on every day when there are no assigned tasks. And when there are tasks, you can still publish personal posts. [&#8230;] Submit them under the \u2018personal\u2019 category in the chatbot. I remind you that bonuses are also awarded for this, and the lack of personal tasks\u2026 the lack of personal tasks directly affects the bonus amount,\u201d<\/em> the curator explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Later, the same \u201cMihail Alexandrovich\u201d brought good news for the \u201cInfoLiders.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cSo, I\u2019d like to give you and share some wonderful news \u2014 thanks to our excellent results, we\u2019ll receive about 20% more in bonuses. That means instead of 2500, it will be 3000. [&#8230;] 3000 will be transferred to your card for completing 100% of the tasks,\u201d<\/em> he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>\u201cOur project won\u2019t shut down after elections\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>And the good news didn\u2019t stop there. Mihail Alexandrovich mentioned that the project would continue to expand throughout June and would not end with the parliamentary elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cI would also like to tell you that this is our last month of mass recruitment for the team. So, if you have friends or acquaintances you\u2019d like to invite, June is the final month for recruitment. Because we\u2019re transitioning from an open project to a closed one. Now we\u2019ll focus on quality, not quantity. Therefore, this is the last month we can invite friends, acquaintances, or relatives to join the project. This is very important, as there aren\u2019t many days left until the elections. July, August, and September are already election months. But that doesn\u2019t mean our project will end with the elections. It\u2019s proving effective \u2014 we\u2019re seeing very high numbers, specifically, our videos are getting good views. And Facebook is getting good views. That\u2019s why our project won\u2019t shut down after the elections. So don\u2019t worry that it\u2019s just for three months. You can tell your friends about it,\u201d<\/em> announced Mihail Alexandrovich.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Activity on the Telegram channel \u201cInfoLider Sud\u201d continued as usual. Assignments and instructions for creating and publishing posts on Facebook and TikTok \u2014 in both Russian and Romanian \u2014 were issued regularly, every two days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moldova\u2019s information space was bombarded with posts claiming that Romania\u2019s president, Nicu\u0219or Dan, was dictating rules to Moldova and interfering in the parliamentary elections scheduled for September 28. Another topic pushed by paid trolls from Moscow was that French president Emmanuel Macron was also meddling in Moldova\u2019s elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the ZdG journalist had not published any posts during the training program at the curators\u2019 instruction, this time, as part of the \u201cInfoLider\u201d project, she took the \u201cjob\u201d seriously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To receive her \u201csalary\u201d and prove Moscow\u2019s financial involvement in the \u201cInfoLider\u201d project, she had to complete the assignments she was given.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In her first Facebook post \u2014 which didn\u2019t gain much traction \u2014 M\u0103riu\u021ba Nistor presented herself as a young woman disappointed by traditional media, wanting to share honest news and opinions about what was happening in Moldova.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, what she published afterward were neither news nor sincere opinions, but narratives dictated by the \u201cInfoLider\u201d project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Payment methods: rubles via PSB, euros via Moldovan bank cards or via cryptocurrency<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As the first month of work was coming to an end, the curators asked for the banking details of a Russian bank account \u2014 Promsviazbank, or PSB for short. Since she didn\u2019t have such an account, the journalist had to lie, claiming she couldn\u2019t access it, but expressed willingness to create a crypto wallet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cI can send you euros directly to a Moldovan card, and they\u2019ll be automatically converted into lei. I already send money to many people this way, and it seems there are no issues. I usually send from Germany, France, or the UK, and there are no traces at all. But if you prefer cryptocurrency and that\u2019s more convenient for you, you\u2019ll need to decide quickly,\u201d <\/em>explained Adam, the curator of the entire \u201cInfoLider\u201d project, in a conversation with the ZdG journalist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To receive her salary, the journalist created a digital wallet on one of the platforms compatible with the cryptocurrency Adam had specified \u2014 Tether (USDT). Transfers in the same cryptocurrency, totaling over 3 million lei, were identified by authorities following searches conducted on members of the \u0218or network in early September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By the end of June, M\u0103riu\u021ba Nistor\u2019s statistics as an \u201cInfoLider\u201d in the Telegram chatbot showed: 29 links submitted, 26 approved, and 3 rejected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In July, the \u201cInfoLiders\u201d continued their usual activity. The month began with instructions to attack Moldova\u2019s president, Maia Sandu, accusing her of interfering in Romania\u2019s elections and betraying national interests due to her dual citizenship \u2014 narratives widely promoted by pro-Russian politicians in Chi\u0219in\u0103u.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also in July, in the context of a concert featuring Russian artists Leonid Agutin and Liusea Cebotina, organized by Renato Usat\u00eei in central Chi\u0219in\u0103u, \u201cInfoLiders\u201d were instructed to publish posts conveying the message that \u201cpeople in Chi\u0219in\u0103u are dancing to Russian music,\u201d reflecting \u201ca desire for freedom of choice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>\u201cOur first mission \u2013 to gather as many supporters as possible before election day\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At the organizational meeting on July 7, \u201cMihail Alexandrovich\u201d issued new instructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cI wanted to let you know that July and August are declared subscriber accumulation months. It\u2019s very important that we grow during these two months, so I kindly ask everyone to focus on this goal \u2014 especially on Facebook \u2014 to gather friends and followers, so that each of you has 1000\u20131500 friends on Facebook. Because this is our first mission \u2014 to gather as many supporters as possible before election day,\u201d<\/em> stated Mihail Alexandrovich.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the same meeting, the curator also mentioned that there had been reports of some \u201cInfoLiders\u201d attempting to cheat the link collection system in order to receive higher salaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cThis isn\u2019t a frequent issue, but it\u2019s absolutely necessary to mention it. Some people are reposting the posts they made at the beginning and submitting these reposts to the chatbot as if they were new tasks. For example, someone made a post back in February and kept reposting it regularly, submitting it to the chatbot for verification. It passed verification, and they kept doing it again and again. Please, don\u2019t try to be cunning, don\u2019t manipulate Facebook or TikTok platforms, and don\u2019t confuse the people who verify links in the chatbot \u2014 they\u2019re very professional, they\u2019ve been checking links for months, so they have a trained eye,\u201d<\/em> explained the group coordinator.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u201cWe\u2019re not part of the Victorie bloc \u2014 we\u2019re friends\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Although the \u201cInfoLider\u201d project was created specifically by recruiting trolls trained in the \u201cTraining of Communication Activists\u201d program of the \u201cVictorie\u201d bloc, controlled by Ilan \u0218or, \u201cMihail Alexandrovich\u201d stated that \u201cInfoLider\u201d is, at least outwardly, dissociating itself from the \u201cVictorie\u201d bloc. The same message was conveyed by curator \u201cAdam\u201d, as shown in the first part of the investigation \u201cKremlin\u2019s Digital Army.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cM. Alexandrovich\u201d:<\/strong> <em>I told you that we don\u2019t work as part of the \u201cVictorie\u201d bloc \u2014 we work as friends of the \u201cVictorie\u201d bloc. When we started, we said that \u201cInfoLider\u201d accounts must not contain any information about the \u201cVictorie\u201d bloc. Everyone agreed. Therefore, in order to continue in \u201cInfoLider,\u201d your accounts must not contain any information about the \u201cVictorie\u201d bloc.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>InfoLider 1:<\/strong> <em>So I have to leave that group or what should I do?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cM. Alexandrovich\u201d:<\/strong> <em>It\u2019s up to you. You can create a new account for them or for me, but preferably for them, of course \u2014 not for me.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>InfoLider 1: <\/strong><em>But please tell me, is there anyone else in the group who works in communication? Please clarify!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cM. Alexandrovich\u201d:<\/strong> <em>I see many people here in the group who work in communication.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>InfoLider 2:<\/strong><em> I\u2019m also part of the communication team of the \u201cVictorie\u201d bloc, but I have an additional account \u2014 both on Facebook and TikTok. Everything related to communication is posted there. The two activities don\u2019t intersect.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>InfoLider 3:<\/strong><em> Yes, to avoid breaking the rule? Better to create a second account.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cM. Alexandrovich\u201d:<\/strong> <em>If you\u2019re part of InfoLider, it\u2019s not mandatory to be a communication activist. If someone asks why you\u2019re an InfoLider but not a communication activist, I\u2019ll defend you \u2014 because you\u2019re doing different work, much more complex.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Cryptocurrency salary for June: 70 USDT<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Since Adam had assured the ZdG journalist that the salary for June would be paid during the first week of July, the funds were transferred on July 11. She received 70 USDT, the equivalent of 70 US dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1758179251965-346x740.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Once the cryptocurrency transfer was received in her digital wallet, an attempt was made to gather more information about the sender. However, it was found that security measures had been taken to leave no traces that could lead to the person who made the transfer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLudmila\u2019s\u201d activity in the network continued as usual. On July 24, 2025, a new group call took place. Right at the beginning, Mihail Alexandrovich emphasized that salaries transferred via PSB should have already reached each \u201cInfoLider.\u201d From this, it was deduced that transfers through the Russian bank PSB were still ongoing, despite authorities\u2019 efforts to block them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>\u201cDon\u2019t post meatball recipes! The content must have a political angle\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Mihail Alexandrovich repeatedly reminded the \u201cInfoLiders\u201d that even the posts labeled as \u201cpersonal\u201d must carry a political tone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cYou shouldn\u2019t post meatball recipes or other recipes under the \u2018personal\u2019 category. That\u2019s interesting, of course, but we have a condition \u2014 the content must have a political, social, or news-related angle. The \u2018Baba Neagr\u0103\u2019 recipe is interesting, but unfortunately, the link will be rejected,\u201d<\/em> explained the curator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Project participants were curious whether posting more would result in higher pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>InfoLider:<\/strong> <em>You mentioned 60 links, but if we have more accepted links, does that influence our bonuses or not?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mihail Alexandrovich: <\/strong><em>There\u2019s a limit beyond which it won\u2019t affect bonuses. For example, 140 is too much \u2014 it won\u2019t increase. But between 60 and 80, it does increase. One task includes three links: one for TikTok, one for Facebook, and one Facebook Reel. So, 3 times 30 equals 90.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>\u201cSeparated from Victorie bloc, yet aligned\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Although a formal dissociation from the \u201cVictorie\u201d Bloc was attempted, during the period when the bloc tried to organize protests in central Chi\u0219in\u0103u, \u201cInfoLiders\u201d were encouraged to post content related to the demonstrations announced by Ilan \u0218or for August 16 and 23, 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To support this, a new Telegram group was created, called \u201cCon\u021binut pentru video\u201d (Content for Video). Here, \u201cAdam\u201d and other participants shared several videos from the bloc\u2019s protest attempts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the following days, \u201cLudmila\u201d received assignments to create posts about how the European Union was allegedly interfering in Moldova\u2019s elections, about lawyers protesting against a law passed by PAS, about the blocking and deletion of TikTok channels, and about claims that PAS was adopting the same governing methods as Plahotniuc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>\u201cWe\u2019ve become a force shaping the narratives in the informational space\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On August 19, 2025, a new group call was held. \u201cMihail Alexandrovich\u201d reminded participants that the parliamentary elections were approaching and congratulated the \u201cInfoLiders\u201d for turning the project into a powerful tool for controlling Moldova\u2019s information space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cElections are coming soon, it\u2019s already August\u2026 we may have rushed this announcement a bit. It\u2019s not just our project \u2014 the entire online activity \u2014 we\u2019ve become very active online and have become a force shaping the narratives in the information space. I want to congratulate you for that,\u201d<\/em> said the curator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Coordination by region: North, South, Center<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While responding to a question from an \u201cInfoLider\u201d about posts published with delays, \u201cMihail Alexandrovich\u201d revealed how the \u201cInfoLider\u201d project is structured by region and how narratives are distributed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cWhen you post daily, the algorithms are designed so that if the topic is current, it gets mass exposure. For example, why did the protest in Chi\u0219in\u0103u gain traction? First, it\u2019s of interest to many, and there were lots of posts on the topic. Some districts receive assignments two or three days later, so the topic is already warmed up\u2026 for example, the South warms it up, the North picks it up, and so on \u2014 creating long-term impact. Like \u2018arrest instead of healing\u2019 \u2014 it was published earlier in the South, then picked up later by the Center and North,\u201d<\/em> explained the curator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On August 23, the day the \u201cVictorie\u201d bloc attempted another round of nationwide protests, \u201cInfoLiders\u201d received a message emphasizing the importance of the day, calling it a \u201crehearsal for September 28.\u201d The message also stated that \u201cthis format will be used in the final days of September.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u201cInfoLider\u201d at an impasse?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Just two days later, the optimism vanished. A message was posted in the chat announcing that the project would NOT continue due to lack of funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The moment wasn\u2019t captured, as the message was deleted within seconds. That evening, a new Telegram group was created, and \u201cLudmila\u201d was invited. The \u201cdigital army\u201d was informed that more details would be shared the next day during the usual evening call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cI\u2019ll immediately answer a very important question \u2014 bonuses will be paid, everything will come, don\u2019t worry! That message sent in the group was caused by someone\u2019s emotional breakdown, a person who panicked and, frankly, exposed everyone in the team. So don\u2019t worry \u2014 bonuses will be distributed soon. It\u2019s just that there\u2019s a lot of pressure on accounting right now because of the protests and other obligations\u2026 basically, large lists. But soon, bonuses will be transferred to everyone. I understand the situation is uncomfortable for everyone, but bonuses will be paid shortly,\u201d<\/em> emphasized \u201cMihail Alexandrovich\u201d during the group discussion.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>\u201cAccounting is under heavy pressure\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The curator repeatedly assured participants that the project would continue even after the parliamentary elections: \u201cBelieve me, after the elections, we\u2019ll still have work to do, and we\u2019ll all continue working online together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cYou\u2019ve probably all seen how quickly the news spread that the August 23 rally didn\u2019t work for the \u2018Victory\u2019 bloc and that, most likely, nothing will remain of the bloc moving forward. That\u2019s why everyone felt confused and panicked, unsure of where we\u2019re headed and what needs to be done. Don\u2019t worry! We\u2019re staying, we\u2019re working \u2014 even though we\u2019re loosely connected to the \u2018Victory\u2019 bloc, we don\u2019t belong to it, so we\u2019re not concerned. We keep working,\u201d<\/em> emphasized the curator of the southern group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the same day, following the decision of the Chi\u0219in\u0103u Court of Appeal regarding the participation of the \u201cMoldova Mare\u201d (Greater Moldova) Party in the elections, \u201cInfoLiders\u201d were instructed to publish posts suggesting that the ruling party was using the Central Electoral Commission to \u201celiminate competitors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>\u201cWe and the \u2018Victorie\u2019 bloc share the same accounting\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On August 27, 2025, while Moldova celebrated 34 years of independence alongside the presidents of France, Germany, and Poland, behind the scenes, Moscow continued its efforts to bring Moldova back into its sphere of influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the \u201cInfoLider Sud\u201d working group, it was announced that a new group call would be held the next day to issue instructions for September. The call began with discussions\u2026 about money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cOur accounting and the bloc\u2019s accounting are one and the same. I understand this delay is very unpleasant \u2014 more than half a month has passed, and bonuses haven\u2019t been sent. Usually, they arrive between the 16th and 20th, but now\u2026 It\u2019s all because we and the \u2018Victorie\u2019 bloc share the same accounting, and payments are delayed due to errors in the transfer lists,\u201d<\/em> the curator explained to justify the salary delays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A month before election day: \u201c<\/strong><strong><em>Now it will be anti-PAS politics, with lots of content against PAS\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Although assignments given to \u201cInfoLiders\u201d had already been largely directed against the ruling party, in September, \u201cMihail Alexandrovich\u201d reiterated that the campaign content would remain focused on attacking PAS. Suggested topics for posts included the efforts of the \u201cMoldova Mare\u201d Party, led by Victoria Furtun\u0103, to register for the elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cThere\u2019s one month left until the elections, so I ask you to get involved as much as possible in the process, because there will be challenges. Now it will be anti-PAS politics, with lots of content against PAS. We\u2019ll have a lot of work, the activity will be interesting, and everything will be paid,\u201d<\/em> the curator explained.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Salary delay for July: \u201c<\/strong><strong><em>Honestly, I no longer feel like working\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As promised, the first day of September came with a new assignment \u2014 to attack the ruling party \u2014 but still without pay. The issue of unpaid salaries remained the main topic of discussion among the \u201cinfoliders.\u201d Their persistent messages revealed the true motivation behind their involvement in the project: money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cI care about the work, of course, but I have a family,\u201d<\/em> <em>\u201cYou just don\u2019t have the same enthusiasm when you\u2019re disappointed,\u201d \u201cHonestly, I no longer feel like working\u201d <\/em>\u2014 these were some of the messages shared by \u201cinfoliders.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The \u201crebellion\u201d of the so-called InfoLiders displeased the project\u2019s curators. <em>\u201cDo you think this kind of behavior will speed up the payment process?\u201d<\/em> asked \u201cAdam\u201d rhetorically in the \u201cCon\u021binut pentru video\u201d (Content for Video) group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cWe\u2019re not giving you assignments right now precisely so we don\u2019t exploit your work or ours, simply put,\u201d <\/em>Adam continued in the same message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A 10-day pause followed, during which uncertainty dominated the chats. Meanwhile, public reports surfaced about the hacking of several communication channels linked to the \u0218or group and the \u201cVictorie\u201d Bloc, along with accusations that members of the \u0218or network had been involved in embezzling millions of dollars intended for activists to destabilize Moldova.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, on September 10 \u2014 just 18 days before the parliamentary elections \u2014 optimism returned in a message from \u201cMihail Alexandrovich,\u201d who announced that \u201cthe bonuses are already on their way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The curator also offered an explanation for the salary delays \u2014 the \u201cgreed\u201d of certain individuals who tried to \u201cclaim credit\u201d for the \u201cInfoLider\u201d project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cThey tried to take credit, and when the truth came out (the investigation helped), they started causing trouble. But they didn\u2019t succeed \u2014 we figured it out and resolved the issue,\u201d <\/em>explained \u201cMihail Alexandrovich,\u201d without going into further detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The second salary: 60 USDT<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As soon as July salaries began reaching the \u201cInfoLiders\u2019\u201d accounts, the project resumed its activity. The first assignment was inspired by Moldova\u2019s national football team\u2019s heavy defeat against Norway \u2014 a failure that was, once again, blamed on the ruling party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On Saturday, September 13, the ZdG journalist M\u0103riu\u021ba Nistor, alias \u201cLudmila\u201d, received her July salary \u2014 60 USDT, approximately 60 US dollars. That same day, a group call was held with an important announcement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Victoria Furtun\u0103\u2019s \u201cMoldova Mare\u201d &#8211; Moscow\u2019s new comrade<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Although the project was originally built on members of the \u0218or network, curator \u201cMihail Alexandrovich\u201d announced \u2014 exactly two weeks before the elections \u2014 that \u201cInfoLider\u201d now had \u201cnew friends.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cThis has nothing to do with the \u2018Patriotic Bloc,\u2019 it\u2019s about Victoria Furtun\u0103 and the \u2018Moldova Mare\u2019 Party \u2014 they are our new comrades and friends,\u201d<\/em> he said, responding to a question from the undercover ZdG journalist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cMihail Alexandrovich\u201d<\/strong> went on to explain that not all \u201cInfoLiders\u201d would receive assignments to promote Victoria Furtun\u0103\u2019s party \u2014 only those selected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He also added that those chosen to support \u201cMoldova Mare\u201d were required to remove any trace of content related to the \u201cVictorie\u201d Bloc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cM. Alexandrovich\u201d:<\/strong> <em>One important note. If you\u2019re selected to work on the \u201cMoldova Mare\u201d theme \u2014 Victoria Furtun\u0103 \u2014 you must not publish any information about the \u201cVictorie\u201d Bloc. You\u2019ll also need to remove all content from your account related to the \u201cVictorie\u201d Bloc, because there must be no connection between these two organizations or parties. [&#8230;] Another important rule \u2014 those selected to work for Furtun\u0103 are not allowed to work on anti-PAS, anti-government themes. You\u2019ll need to publish posts on the specific topic assigned to you. Some will work on one line, others on another. We\u2019ll operate on two lines \u2014 anti-PAS and pro-\u201cMoldova Mare.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ZdG:<\/strong> <em>Will the bonuses be the same?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cM. Alexandrovich\u201d:<\/strong> <em>Yes, yes, yes.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>More than 200 \u201cinfoliders\u201d paid from Moscow<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Toward the end of the discussion, \u201cMihail Alexandrovich\u201d revealed some figures about the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cWe called 12,000 activists, 10,000 sympathizers. And we selected the best ones for training \u2014 those who wanted to learn and gain knowledge. Then we invited the best of the best into the project \u2014 those who truly showed results during training and the flashmob. Now we\u2019re more than 200 people. I won\u2019t give you an exact number \u2014 I simply don\u2019t remember,\u201d<\/em> he admitted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Captura-de-ecran-din-2025-09-18-la-10.18.58-360x288.png\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>The following week began with two types of posts: anti-PAS and pro-\u201cMoldova Mare,\u201d Victoria Furtun\u0103\u2019s party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some \u201cInfoLiders\u201d were instructed to write critically about Maia Sandu\u2019s meeting with the Pope in Rome, while others were tasked with promoting claims that \u201cMoldova Mare\u201d had uncovered a criminal scheme. To boost visibility, the next day, curators from Moscow instructed participants to like, comment on, and engage with posts related to the assigned theme.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Furtuna-1-360x336.png\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Furtuna-2-349x360.png\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>ZdG contacted Victoria Furtun\u0103, president of the \u201cMoldova Mare\u201d Party, to ask how she explains the fact that a troll network paid from Moscow is working in her support. \u201cM\u0103riu\u021ba, go take a break and stop promoting PAS!\u201d Furtun\u0103 replied, without even listening to the question.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the last months, a troll network funded directly from Moscow, called \u201cInfoLider\u201d, has expanded, and on the eve and throughout the campaign for parliamentary elections on September 28, it intensified its attacks with propagandistic narratives on social media. Ziarul de Gard\u0103 continued to follow the operations of \u201cKremlin\u2019s digital army\u201d undercover.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":13496,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,10,4,21,17],"tags":[263,650],"autor":[685],"class_list":["post-13494","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-important","category-news","category-political","category-recomended","category-video","tag-elections","tag-parliamentaryelections","autor-mariuta-nistor"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>VIDEO\/ Kremlin\u2019s Digital Army (II). Crypto salaries, the comrade and the enemy. A ZdG undercover investigation - Ziarul de Gard\u0103<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zdg.md\/en\/video-kremlins-digital-army-ii-crypto-salaries-the-comrade-and-the-enemy-a-zdg-undercover-investigation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"VIDEO\/ Kremlin\u2019s Digital Army (II). Crypto salaries, the comrade and the enemy. A ZdG undercover investigation - Ziarul de Gard\u0103\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In the last months, a troll network funded directly from Moscow, called \u201cInfoLider\u201d, has expanded, and on the eve and throughout the campaign for parliamentary elections on September 28, it intensified its attacks with propagandistic narratives on social media. 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