Romania arrests two suspects in 2026 Brasov fire linked to Russian network

Romanian intelligence officials announced on Monday that two suspects are in custody in Germany following a fire at an industrial site in Brasov. The blaze, which occurred on September 14 near a state-owned weapons factory, is the latest incident attributed to a sabotage network coordinated by Russia.

The Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, or DIICOT, identified three individuals involved in the arson. Two of the suspects are Belarusian nationals, while the third is a Ukrainian national. All three resided in European Union member states at the time of the incident. German authorities detained the two Belarusians while they were preparing to execute similar operations in other locations. The third suspect remains at large in Poland.

According to the intelligence service, the network recruits agents through social media platforms. Initial tasks are described as low-risk activities, such as photographing specific targets. Over time, the assignments escalate to include vandalism, arson, and potentially murder. The agency stated that these operations target arms manufacturers and other sites of military interest to weaken European security contributions.

Romania’s centrist president, Nicusor Dan, described the country as a target of a hybrid war. He cited drone incursions, cyberattacks, and disinformation campaigns as part of Russia’s effort to destabilize nations supporting Ukraine. Foreign Minister Dan Neculaescu characterized the Brasov fire as part of a wider campaign across Europe. He stated that these hybrid attacks would not prevent the country from strengthening its defense resilience.

The accusation follows a series of incidents at defense sites in Europe during the past several months. In September, an ammunition storage site in Bulgaria suffered explosions and a fire. Weeks earlier, a blaze occurred at another munitions facility operated by EMCO, a Bulgarian arms maker supplying Ukraine. In the same month, firebombs were thrown near a defense company’s offices in Munich. Romanian authorities also detained a Russian citizen accused of surveilling military sites.

In August, a blast struck an ammunition factory near Rome operated by KNDS. Maritime incidents have also increased, with at least eight cargo ships hit off the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria over the last three weeks. Approximately 34 sailors were reported dead or missing in these maritime events. President Dan referred to the ship attacks as a tragic consequence of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. A year ago, Poland and Romania detained eight people suspected of participating in a Russian plot to send exploding parcels to Ukraine.