Romanian intelligence identifies Russian sabotage network thought to have caused industrial fire

Romania's Intelligence Service identified a Russian-coordinated sabotage network believed responsible for a September fire at an industrial site near a state-owned weapons company. President Dan accused Russia of escalating hybrid attacks on NATO's eastern flank. Prosecutors seek extradition of two Belarusian suspects and one Ukrainian for arson.

Romania's Intelligence Service said on Monday it had identified a sabotage network coordinated by Russia, which it believed was responsible for a fire in September at an industrial site in central Romania near a state-owned weapons company. President Nicusor Dan alleged that Russia had significantly escalated attacks on NATO's eastern flank this month, describing a hybrid war waged to destabilize nations that support Ukraine. The attacks range from drone incursions into Romanian airspace to cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, acts of sabotage and attacks on cargo vessels near Romanian waters. Romanian organized crime prosecutors said they were seeking the extradition of two Belarusian suspects apprehended in Germany and one Ukrainian detained in Poland, all suspected of involvement in the arson case. The Intelligence Service said all three were part of the network coordinated by Russia, whose coordinators had assigned targets including state and private weapons production facilities. At least eight cargo ships have been hit off the coast of NATO members Romania and Bulgaria in the past three weeks, with 34 sailors reported dead or missing. Russia's embassy could not be reached for comment, but Moscow has repeatedly denied such accusations.