Romania Cites 14-September Fire in Pushing Back Against Russian Sabotage
Bucharest summoned the Russian ambassador after intelligence officials linked the blaze to a spy network targeting European defense industries.
By Lina Lewis ·
Romanian President Nicusor Dan declared that a fire in September represented a serious breach of the nation's sovereignty, a stance that underscores the shifting dynamics within the North Atlantic alliance as the war in neighboring Ukraine continues.
The Romanian Intelligence Service identified a sabotage network linked to the blaze on September 14 in Brasov County. The fire damaged facilities belonging to various commercial entities. Authorities stated that the network was coordinated by Russia. The intelligence agency reported that the suspects targeted sites across the region, including state and private weapons manufacturing plants. Other locations of interest included military and industrial sites. The service noted that investigations this year revealed additional attempts against sites in Romania, some of which hosted international military installations or were used for training Ukrainian forces.
Three foreign citizens are currently under investigation in connection with the incident. The suspects include two Belarusians and one Ukrainian, all of whom reside in European Union countries. Romanian authorities detained two of the individuals in Germany while they were preparing similar acts. A European arrest warrant was issued on Monday for the third suspect, who is located in Poland. The Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, known as DIICOT, is seeking to extradite all three to Romania. The Interior Ministry stated that the suspects' actions match patterns seen in other cases attributed to Russia.
The Romanian Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador in Bucharest on Tuesday to protest the sabotage act. Officials presented evidence gathered during the investigation to the diplomat. The ministry emphasized the unacceptable nature of the actions and their impact on national security and citizen safety. Russia has not commented on the specific accusations, though it has historically denied sabotage operations in European countries.
Prime Minister Luca Niculescu condemned the plan, stating that authorities dismantled a Russian sabotage network targeting the defense industry. He described the attacks as unacceptable and affirmed the country's commitment to securing its citizens. President Dan also blamed Russia for recent attacks on civil maritime transport in the Black Sea, which have killed at least three people. Dan characterized these events as part of a coordinated campaign to sow division and undermine European solidarity.
Dan described the incident as part of a hybrid war waged by Moscow to weaken European democracies. He listed tactics such as election interference, disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks, and sabotage. The intelligence service indicated that the network's missions were not limited to Romania, with Russia assigning a wide range of targets throughout the region.
