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

What the report says

Romanian authorities say they have uncovered a sabotage network they believe was coordinated by Russia and linked to a fire at an industrial site near a state-owned weapons factory in the central city of Brasov. The blaze occurred on September 14, according to Romania’s intelligence service, which described it as part of a wider campaign of sabotage targeting European countries supporting Ukraine.

The intelligence service said the alleged operations were aimed at arms manufacturers and other military or industrial sites, with the goal of intimidating countries, weakening defence capabilities and reducing support for regional security. Romania’s anti-organized crime and terrorism directorate, DIICOT, said three people were involved in the Brasov case: two Belarusians and a Ukrainian living in European Union countries. Two were detained in Germany while, investigators said, they were allegedly preparing similar acts; the third remains at large in Poland.

Romanian officials framed the case as part of a broader pattern of “hybrid” pressure on Europe since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. President Nicusor Dan has previously cited drone incursions, cyberattacks, disinformation and sabotage as examples of that pressure. Foreign Minister Dan Neculaescu said the Brasov fire fit into a wider sabotage campaign against military production.

Al Jazeera’s report also noted that similar incidents have recently been reported at defence-related sites in Bulgaria, Germany and Italy, alongside maritime incidents in the Black Sea region. Russia had not publicly commented on Romania’s accusation in the reporting cited.