Romanian intelligence uncovers Russian sabotage network targeting defence plants

Discovery of coordinated network

Romanian intelligence service SRI announced the uncovering of a sabotage structure whose activities were coordinated by Russia. According to security services, this network is implicated in the September incident involving a fire near a plant of the state defence conglomerate Romarm in the city of Brasov. Other targets included centres for training Ukrainian military personnel.

Details of the incident in Brasov

On the evening of 14 September, a fire broke out on the industrial territory of Carfil in Brasov, located next to the CARFIL SA enterprise (a subsidiary of Romarm). The fire damaged a building of approximately 1,000 square metres. This facility housed automotive workshops, a vehicle inspection station, and a car wash.

Investigation and detention of suspects

Special service DIICOT initiated criminal proceedings against three foreigners residing in European Union countries. Among them:

• two Belarusian citizens, detained in Germany while preparing similar sabotage acts;
• a Ukrainian citizen, identified in Poland. A court arrest warrant for him was issued on 26 October.

Scale of threat and government response

According to SRI information, Russian coordinators tasked the network with striking targets across the region. These included state and private enterprises in the weapons sector, as well as other military and industrial facilities. This year, additional sabotage attempts were recorded in Romania, specifically against international military facilities and training centres for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Intelligence emphasises that the fire in Brasov is part of a broader sabotage campaign coordinated by Russia across Europe. In response, the Romanian Ministry of the Interior has strengthened security for critical infrastructure, defence production sites, and large logistics warehouses.