Researchers say media outlet targeting Moldova is a Russian cutout | CyberScoop<\/title> <meta name=\"description\" content=\"REST Media has garnered millions of views on social media for its content targeting Moldova\u2019s pro-EU leadership. Researchers say it\u2019s a Kremlin operation. \"> <link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-russian-cutout\/\"> <meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\"> <meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\"> <meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Researchers say media outlet targeting Moldova is a Russian cutout\"> <meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"REST Media has garnered millions of views on social media for its content targeting Moldova\u2019s pro-EU leadership. 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\/><\/svg> <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Close<\/span> <\/button> <\/section>\n<article class=\"single-article content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__container js-single-article-content\">\n<header class=\"single-article__header \" readability=\"25.364285714286\">\n<div class=\"single-article__header-content\" readability=\"33.795918367347\">\n<ul class=\"single-article__eyebrow\">\n<li class=\"single-article__category\"> <a class=\"single-article__category-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-russian-cutout\/\"> <span>Geopolitics<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> REST Media has garnered millions of views on social media for its content targeting Moldova\u2019s EU-friendly leadership. Researchers say it\u2019s a pro-Kremlin operation. <\/p>\n<p>  <br \/>\n<audio id=\"audio-player\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-tts-cdn.api.scpnewsgrp.com\/cyberscoop\/86096\/english.openai.mp3\"><\/audio> <\/p>\n<div readability=\"11\">\n<div>\n<p>Listen to this article<\/p>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p>0:00<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p> <span id=\"tts-tooltip\">Learn more.<\/span> <span> This feature uses an automated voice, which may result in occasional errors in pronunciation, tone, or sentiment. <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>  <\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__cover-wrap\">\n<figure class=\"single-article__cover\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout.jpg?resize=640%2C360&ssl=1\" class=\"single-article__cover-image wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-2.jpg 7680w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-2.jpg?resize=300,168 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-2.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-2.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-2.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-2.jpg?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-2.jpg?resize=600,337 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-2.jpg?resize=1200,675 1200w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-2.jpg?resize=1500,843 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"><figcaption> REST Media has garnered millions of views on social media for its content targeting Moldova\u2019s EU-friendly leadership. Researchers say it\u2019s a pro-Kremlin operation. (Image via Getty) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"single-article__content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__content-inner has-drop-cap\"> <html readability=\"88.879955947137\"><body readability=\"178.58079234365\"><\/p>\n<p>Researchers say a Russian group sanctioned by the European Union and wanted by the U.S. government is behind an influence operation targeting upcoming elections in Moldova.<\/p>\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/dfrlab.org\/2025\/09\/23\/sanctioned-russian-actor-linked-to-new-media-outlet-targeting-moldova\/\">report<\/a> released Tuesday, researchers at the Atlantic Council\u2019s Digital Forensic Research Lab said that REST Media \u2014 an online news outlet launched in June whose posts have quickly amassed millions of views on social media \u2014 is actually the work of Rybar, a known Russian disinformation outfit connected to other documented influence campaigns against Western countries and Russian-foes like Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>REST\u2019s content \u2014 spread through its website and social media sites like Telegram, X and TikTok \u2014 often hammered Moldova\u2019s pro-EU party, the Party of Action and Solidarity, with claims of electoral corruption, vote selling and other forms of misconduct. The site also sought to explicitly cast Moldova\u2019s anti-disinformation efforts as a form of government censorship.<\/p>\n<p>While REST publishes anonymously-bylined articles on its website meant to mimic news reporting, most of its reach has come from TikTok, which accounts for the overwhelming majority of the 3.1 million views its content has received online.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cThe actual scope and reach of REST\u2019s campaign likely extends beyond what is documented in this investigation,\u201d wrote researchers Jakub Kub\u015b and Eto Buziashvili.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"539\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout.png?resize=640%2C539&ssl=1\" alt class=\"wp-image-86097\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-2.png 1302w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-2.png?resize=300,253 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-2.png?resize=768,646 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-2.png?resize=1024,862 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-2.png?resize=600,505 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-2.png?resize=200,168 200w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-2.png?resize=400,337 400w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-2.png?resize=802,675 802w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-2.png?resize=1001,843 1001w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">REST Media\u2019s social media output received millions of views on platforms like TikTok, X and Telegram. (Source:Digital Forensics Research Lab)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The researchers provide technical evidence that they say shows unavoidable connection and overlap between the online and cloud-based infrastructure hosting REST and online assets from previously known Rybar operations.<\/p>\n<p>For instance, the site shares \u201cidentical\u201d server configurations, file transfer protocol settings and control panel software as Rybar\u2019s mapping platform, while a forensic review of REST\u2019s asset metadata found a number of file paths that explicitly reference Rybar.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese operational security lapses appear to indicate that at least some REST content follows the same production workflow as Rybar,\u201d Kub\u015b and Buziashvili wrote.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Analysis of the domain for REST\u2019s website found it was registered June 20 \u201cthrough a chain of privacy-focused services that collectively create multiple layers of anonymization.\u201d The registration was processed out by Sarek Oy, a Finland-based domain registrar company with a history of involvement with pirated websites that was denied formal accreditation by international bodies like ICANN.<\/p>\n<p>The listed domain registrant for REST\u2019s website, 1337 (or \u201cLEET\u201d) Services LLC, appears to be a play on common hacker slang, and DFIRLab said the company is tied to a notorious VPN service based in St. Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean that is known for helping clients hide their identities.<\/p>\n<p>Efforts to reach the site\u2019s operators were not successful. REST\u2019s website, which is still active, contains no information about the identities of editorial staff, regularly publishes stories with anonymous bylines and does not appear to provide any means for readers to contact the publication, though there is a section for readers to leak sensitive documents and apply for employment.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"379\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-1.png?resize=640%2C379&ssl=1\" alt class=\"wp-image-86099\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-3.png 1446w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-3.png?resize=300,178 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-3.png?resize=768,455 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-3.png?resize=1024,606 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-3.png?resize=600,355 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-3.png?resize=284,168 284w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-3.png?resize=569,337 569w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-3.png?resize=1140,675 1140w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-3.png?resize=1424,843 1424w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An image from REST Media detailing \u201celectoral corruption\u201d in Moldova targeting Maia Sandu, head of the Pro-EU Party of Action and Solidarity. (Source: Digital Forensics Research Lab)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Kub\u015b and Buziashvili said the new research demonstrates that REST \u201cis more than just another clone in Russian\u2019s information operations ecosystem.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt provides granular detail on how actors, such as Rybar, adapt, regenerate, and cloak themselves to continue their efforts to influence,\u201d the authors wrote. \u201cFrom shared FTP configurations to sloppy metadata, the evidence points to REST being part of a broader strategy to outlast sanctions through proxy brands and technical obfuscation.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>It also underscores \u201cthat such influence efforts\u201d from Russia are not siloed \u201cbut cross-pollinated across regions, platforms, and political contexts, seeding disinformation that resonates well beyond Moldovan borders.\u201d<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-no-rest-from-influence-campaigns\">No REST from influence campaigns<\/h4>\n<p>REST is the latest in a string of information operations targeting Moldova\u2019s elections that have been traced back to the Russian government over the past year, according to Western governments and independent researchers who track state-backed disinformation campaigns.<\/p>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/fimi-isac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Country-Report-Moldova-Risk-Assessment.pdf\">risk assessment<\/a> from the Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference Information Sharing and Analysis Center on Sept. 9 identifies what it described as \u201cpersistent Russian-led hybrid threats, including information warfare, illicit financing, cyberattacks, and proxy mobilisation, aimed at undermining the Moldovan government\u2019s pro-EU agenda and boosting pro-Russian actors.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The assessment pointed to Moldova\u2019s fragmented media landscape \u2014 \u201cwhere banned pro-Russian outlets evade restrictions via mirror websites, apps, and social media platforms such as Telegram and TikTok\u201d \u2014 as a vulnerability that is being exploited by Russian actors, alongside the country\u2019s limited regulatory resources and gaps in online political ad regulation. Russian-directed influence activities in Moldova have \u201cevolved significantly\u201d from funding real-life protests and other forms of paid mobilization to \u201cincreasingly technology driven operations,\u201d including social media and newer technologies like artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>But such mobilization may still be part of Russia\u2019s plans. Earlier this week, Moldovan authorities <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/moldova-russia-arrests-plot-election-293ee902e878ce1efcca339759eb06d0\">carried out 250 raids and detained dozens<\/a> of individuals that they claimed were part of a Russian-orchestrated plot to incite riots and destabilize the country ahead of next week\u2019s elections.<\/p>\n<p>The goal is to create a society that feels besieged from all sides \u2014 facing not only external pressure from Russia abroad but also internal political strife that can prevent a unified front.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis intersection of external manipulation and internal fragmentation heightens political polarisation, risks disengaging the traditionally pro-European diaspora, and fosters growing public apathy and disillusionment, outcomes that directly threaten electoral integrity and democratic resilience,\u201d the assessment concluded.<\/p>\n<p>It also comes as the U.S. federal government has \u2014 often loudly and proudly \u2014 moved away from any systemic effort to fight or limit the spread of disinformation domestically and abroad.<\/p>\n<p>The State Department under Secretary Marco Rubio earlier this year shut down the Global Engagement Center, which was created by Congress and functioned as the federal government\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/fedscoop.com\/can-the-global-engagement-center-make-the-case-for-itself\/\">primary diplomatic arm<\/a> for engaging with other countries on disinformation issues.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In a Sept. 17 statement, State Department principal deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed that the department had \u201cceased all Frameworks to Counter Foreign State Information Manipulation and any associated instruments implemented by the former administration.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Pigott added that the decision to shutter the office, which focused mostly on foreign disinformation campaigns waged by autocrats abroad, aligns with an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/2025\/01\/restoring-freedom-of-speech-and-ending-federal-censorship\/\">executive order<\/a> on free speech and freedom of expression issued shortly after Trump took office. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThrough free speech, the United States will counter genuine malign propaganda from adversaries that threaten our national security, while protecting Americans\u2019 right to exchange ideas,\u201d Pigott said.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the State Department, the Trump administration has <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/doj-disbands-foreign-influence-task-force\/\">shut down<\/a> the foreign influence task force at the FBI and <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/cisa-misinformation-disinformation-administrative-leave\/\">fired officials<\/a> and eliminated disinformation research at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.<\/p>\n<p>The Foreign Malign Influence Center, a key office housed within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, was responsible for piecing together intelligence around burgeoning foreign influence operations targeting U.S. elections and <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/us-election-2024-information-operations-russia-china-iran-odni\/\">notifying policymakers and the public.<\/a> According to sources familiar with the matter, the center\u2019s work has largely ground to a halt under Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dni.gov\/files\/ODNI\/documents\/ODNI-20-Fact-Sheet.pdf\">who is planning to eliminate the center<\/a> as part of a larger intelligence reorganization plan.<\/p>\n<p>Lindsay Gorman, a former White House official under the Biden administration, told CyberScoop<a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/state-departments-disinformation-office-to-close-after-funding-nixed-in-ndaa\/\"> earlier this year<\/a> that the U.S. needs a way to coordinate with democratic allies and provide effective interventions when their elections and digital infrastructure are being targeted by intelligence services in Russia, China and other adversarial nations.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>One way to fight back, Gorman said, is to have \u201ceyes and ears on the ground\u201d on those countries and \u201cto expose covert campaigns for what they are,\u201d something that outfits like the State Department\u2019s Global Engagement Center were explicitly designed to do.<\/p>\n<p><\/body> <\/p>\n<footer class=\"single-article__footer\" readability=\"3.5904936014625\">\n<div class=\"author-card\" readability=\"13\">\n<div class=\"author-card__avatar\">\n<figure class=\"author-card__image-wrap\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-card__image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout-1.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\" alt=\"Derek B. Johnson\"> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h4 class=\"author-card__name\">Written by Derek B. Johnson<\/h4>\n<p> Derek B. Johnson is a reporter at CyberScoop, where his beat includes cybersecurity, elections and the federal government. Prior to that, he has provided award-winning coverage of cybersecurity news across the public and private sectors for various publications since 2017. 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{"id":8009,"date":"2025-09-23T16:12:21","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T21:12:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=86096"},"modified":"2025-09-23T16:12:21","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T21:12:21","slug":"researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/2025\/09\/23\/researchers-say-media-outlet-targeting-moldova-is-a-russian-cutout\/","title":{"rendered":"Researchers say media outlet targeting Moldova is a Russian cutout"},"content":{"rendered":"