Romania says Russia-run sabotage network set fire near weapons factory

Romanian authorities revealed on Monday that the September 14 fire in Brasov was orchestrated by a network coordinated by Russia. The blaze occurred near a state-owned weapons factory and was part of a wider campaign of sabotage operations aimed at arms manufacturers and other military and industrial targets, according to the Intelligence Service.

The agency stated that these actions are intended to intimidate, undermine defence capabilities and weaken the contribution of the targeted states to European and regional security. Romania's Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) identified three individuals involved in the Brasov incident – two Belarusians and a Ukrainian, all residing in EU countries.

European sabotage campaign

Foreign Minister Dan Neculaescu described the Brasov fire as part of a broader campaign of sabotage across Europe targeting military production. Romania, an EU and NATO member sharing a 600km border with Ukraine, considers itself a target of Russia's hybrid war that includes drone incursions, cyberattacks, disinformation, and sabotage.

Recent incidents across Europe

The accusation follows a series of incidents at defense sites across Europe in recent weeks. In September, explosions and fires struck Bulgarian ammunition storage sites operated by EMCO, which supplies munitions to Ukraine. That same month, firebombs were thrown near a defense company in Munich, and Romanian authorities detained a Russian citizen accused of preparing sabotage.

In August, an ammunition factory near Rome operated by KNDS was hit by a blast. Additionally, at least eight cargo ships have been attacked off Romania and Bulgaria's coasts over the past three weeks, resulting in 34 sailors reported dead or missing. President Dan called these attacks a new example of the tragic consequences of Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

Recruitment methods

According to Romania's Intelligence Service, recruits for such networks are often found on social media and initially offered money for a seemingly harmless task, such as observing or photographing targets. Over time, the tasks become increasingly serious, potentially involving acts of vandalism, arson or even murder.

Two suspects from the Brasov case were tracked down and remanded in custody in Germany while they were preparing to commit similar offenses, while the third remains at large in Poland. A year ago, Poland and Romania also detained eight people suspected in a Russian plot to send exploding parcels to Ukraine.