Romanian authorities allege that a network coordinated from Russia was involved in a September fire beside a state-owned arms factory in Brașov. Prosecutors identified two Belarusian suspects and one Ukrainian. Two were detained in Germany and a third remained at large in Poland. Romania’s intelligence service described recruits being offered paid observation tasks before more serious assignments.
Romanian authorities alleged on 26 October that a network coordinated from Russia was involved in the fire of 14 September in Brașov, central Romania. The fire was at an industrial site beside CARFIL, an arms manufacturer belonging to Romania’s state defence company ROMARM. The Romanian Intelligence Service linked the incident to a wider sabotage campaign against European military and industrial facilities.[1], [2]
Romanian prosecutors identified three suspects, two Belarusian citizens and a Ukrainian citizen living in European countries. They said two were tracked down and detained in Germany while allegedly preparing similar offences. The third remained at large in Poland. Judicial proceedings were continuing with authorities in several European states. Russia did not immediately respond to the specific accusation concerning the Brașov fire.[1]
The intelligence service alleged that the network targeted arms manufacturers and other sites of military and industrial interest. It said recruits were often found on social media and initially offered money to observe or photograph targets. Assignments could then escalate into vandalism, arson or even murder. The service said the operations aimed to intimidate affected states, undermine their defence capabilities and weaken their contribution to European and regional security.[1]
