Romania has reported discovering a sabotage network linked to Russia
The Romanian internal intelligence service, SRI, announced that it has uncovered a sabotage network allegedly coordinated by the Russian special services. According to the agency, the group attempted to set fire to the Carfil arms factory in the city of Brașov in September. The suspects include two Belarusians and one Ukrainian.
Romania has announced the exposure of a sabotage network linked to Russia
According to a statement released by the SRI on October 26, the attempt to set fire to the factory took place on September 14. Romanian intelligence claims that this network was directly managed by Russian special services.
The statement cited by Reuters says that coordinators in Russia gave the group a wide list of targets in the region. Among them were state and private arms manufacturing enterprises, as well as other facilities of military and industrial significance.
The agency was unable to obtain immediate comment from the Russian embassy in Bucharest. Moscow has previously repeatedly denied similar allegations.
Two suspects detained in Germany
According to the Romanian TV channel Știri, two of the suspects were detained in Germany while preparing similar acts of sabotage. A third is wanted in Poland.
Bucharest is trying to achieve their extradition to Romania.
Romanian Foreign Minister Dan Nicolescu called the incident in Brașov part of a broader sabotage campaign targeted against the defense industry in Europe, AFP reported.
The country's President Nicușor Dan had also previously described Romania as one of the targets of the hybrid war being conducted by Russia. In his view, such actions are aimed at destabilizing the situation in countries supporting Ukraine.
Recruitment begins with simple tasks
According to the SRI, perpetrators for such actions are usually recruited through social networks. Initially, they are offered seemingly harmless tasks for money — monitoring or taking photographs of a specific facility.
Later, the tasks become more serious and may include crimes such as vandalism, arson, or even murder, the intelligence statement says.
On October 20, citing three European officials familiar with the findings of US special services, The Wall Street Journal wrote that Russian President Vladimir Putin had personally given instructions to intensify sabotage against NATO countries.