Romanian authorities say they have uncovered a network coordinated by Russia, which they believe was responsible for a fire at an industrial site near a state-owned weapons factory in September. Romania’s Intelligence Service said on Monday that the blaze in the central city of Brasov, on September 14, formed part of a broader set of sabotage operations directed by Moscow during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The agency said the operations targeted arms manufacturers and other facilities of military and industrial importance. In a statement, it said the goal was to intimidate people, weaken defence capabilities and reduce the support that targeted countries give to European and regional security.
Suspects tied to the Brasov fire
There was no immediate response from Russia to Romania’s claims. Moscow has repeatedly rejected similar accusations in the past.
Also read: Romania blames Russia after drone sinks cargo ship off Black Sea
Romania’s Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, known as DIICOT, said three people were involved in the Brasov fire. Two are Belarusian and one is Ukrainian, and all were living in European Union countries. According to the directorate, two of the suspects were located and held in custody in Germany while they were preparing similar offences. The third remains at large in Poland.
How recruits are drawn into the network
The Intelligence Service said recruits for such networks are often found on social media. They are typically first offered payment for what appears to be a harmless job, such as watching or photographing particular targets.
According to the agency, the assignments grow more serious over time, potentially including vandalism, arson or even murder. The service presented this pattern as a central feature of how these operations are run.
A string of incidents across Europe
The accusation comes after a series of incidents at defence sites across Europe in recent weeks. In September, explosions and a fire broke out at an ammunition storage site in Bulgaria, weeks after a blaze at another munitions facility in the country. Both sites are operated by the Bulgarian arms maker EMCO, whose munitions are used in Ukraine.
That same month, firebombs were thrown near the offices of a defence company in Munich. Romanian authorities also said they had detained a Russian citizen accused of filming and photographing military sites in preparation for sabotage. In August, a blast hit an ammunition factory near Rome in Italy, operated by the arms maker KNDS.
At sea, at least eight cargo ships have been struck off the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria over the past three weeks, and about 34 sailors have been reported dead or missing. A year earlier, Poland and Romania had detained eight people suspected of taking part in a Russian plot to send exploding parcels to Ukraine.
Romanian leaders warn of hybrid threat
Romania, a member of both the EU and NATO, shares a border of more than 600km with Ukraine. President Nicusor Dan has said the country is a target of a hybrid war that Russia is waging against nations that back Kyiv. He pointed to drone incursions into Romanian airspace, cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns and sabotage as evidence.
Foreign Minister Dan Neculaescu said the Brasov fire was part of a wider sabotage campaign across Europe aimed at military production. Writing on X, he said hybrid attacks would not stop Romania from strengthening its resilience and defence. President Dan has also described the attacks on ships in Romanian waters as a new example of the tragic consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
