Moldova, the EU and the United States said the Kremlin had waged a "hybrid war" campaign to destabilize the country and keep it in Russia's sphere of influence, including funding pro-Moscow parties, spreading disinformation and pouring millions of dollars into schemes to buy up 300,000 votes. Nearly 1.5 million Moldovans ultimately voted.

Moldovans were evenly split on Monday amid final counting in a geopolitically momentous referendum on European Union accession with 50.08% in favor and 49.92% against, electoral authorities said.

The European Union accused Russia of "unprecedented" meddling in the recent votes in Moldova that were seen as among the most pivotal in the country's post-Soviet history. "The European Union condemns the unprecedented malign interference by Russia into Moldova’s presidential elections and constitutional referendum,