Romania links Brasov fire to Russian sabotage network

Romanian authorities identified a network coordinated by Moscow that they say started a fire at an industrial site in September. The Romanian Intelligence Service announced on Monday that the blaze, which occurred in the central city of Brasov on September 14, was part of a wider campaign of sabotage operations. The agency stated these operations target arms manufacturers and other sites of military interest. The goal, according to the service, is to intimidate nations and weaken their contribution to European security.

The Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, or DIICOT, determined that three individuals were involved in the Brasov fire. Two of the suspects were citizens of Belarus, and the third was a Ukrainian national. All three resided in different countries within the European Union. DIICOT reported that German authorities detained two of the suspects while they were preparing to commit similar offenses. The third suspect remains at large in Poland.

Romania’s Intelligence Service described the recruitment process for such networks. Agents often find recruits on social media and offer them money for seemingly harmless tasks, such as observing or photographing targets. The agency noted that these initial assignments can escalate into acts of vandalism, arson, or even murder. Russia has not issued an immediate comment on the claim, though Moscow has previously denied similar accusations.

The incident fits a pattern of attacks on defense infrastructure across the continent. In September, explosions and a fire hit an ammunition storage site in Bulgaria operated by EMCO, a company whose munitions are used in Ukraine. A similar fire struck another EMCO facility weeks earlier. In the same month, firebombs were thrown near the offices of a defense company in Munich. Romanian authorities also detained a Russian citizen accused of filming military sites in preparation for sabotage.

President Nicusor Dan, a centrist, has characterized the situation as a hybrid war aimed at destabilizing nations that support Kyiv. He cited drone incursions, cyberattacks, and disinformation campaigns as part of this strategy. Foreign Minister Dan Neculaescu stated that the Brasov fire was part of a broader campaign targeting military production across Europe. He said hybrid attacks would not stop Romania from strengthening its resilience and defense.

The accusations come as Romania shares a border of more than 600 kilometers with Ukraine. At least eight cargo ships have been hit off the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria over the past three weeks. Approximately 34 sailors have been reported dead or missing in these incidents. President Dan called the attacks on ships in Romanian waters a tragic consequence of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. A year ago, Poland and Romania detained eight people suspected of participating in a Russian plot to send exploding parcels to Ukraine.