Romania: Russian-directed network behind September weapons plant fire

Romania’s Intelligence Service announced on Monday that a sabotage network coordinated by Russia was responsible for a fire at an industrial site in central Romania. The incident occurred in September and took place near a state-owned weapons company. The agency identified the group as a structured operation aimed at disrupting regional stability.

Organized crime prosecutors are seeking the extradition of three individuals linked to the arson. Two Belarusian suspects were apprehended in Germany, while one Ukrainian suspect was detained in Poland. All three are part of the network whose coordinators assigned specific targets. These included state and private weapons production facilities, as well as other sites of military and industrial interest.

Centrist President Nicusor Dan has described Romania as a target of a hybrid war waged by Moscow to destabilize nations supporting Kyiv. Romania shares a land border of more than 600 kilometers with Ukraine. Dan cited drone incursions, cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and attacks on cargo vessels as part of this strategy.

The Russian embassy in Bucharest could not be reached for comment outside business hours. Moscow has repeatedly denied such accusations in the past. Last year, Poland and Romania detained eight people suspected of involvement in a Russian plan to send exploding parcels to Ukraine.

Tensions have risen recently along NATO’s eastern flank. Dan accused Russia of escalating attacks this month following a series of drone strikes on cargo vessels in the Black Sea. At least eight cargo ships have been hit off the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria in the past three weeks. Some 34 sailors are reported dead or missing.