Romania Exposes Russian-Run Sabotage Network Behind Carfil Arson Attempt
Romania's intelligence service (SRI) has exposed a Russian-coordinated sabotage network involved in an attempt to set fire to the Carfil arms factory in Brasov on 14 September, European Pravda reported, citing an SRI statement.
Investigators established that three citizens of post-Soviet states who lived legally in European Union countries were involved. According to Digi24, they are two Belarusian citizens and one Ukrainian. Two suspects were detained by law enforcement in Germany, where they were preparing similar crimes; the third was arrested in Poland. The Bucharest Court of Appeal has already issued European arrest warrants for all three, and Romanian authorities have started extradition procedures.
Wider targets
The service said the group's activity was not limited to Romania. Russian handlers had set it a range of targets in the region, including state and private arms-producing enterprises and other military and industrial facilities. The case is part of a broader campaign of Russian-coordinated sabotage in Europe, the statement said. Investigations this year also uncovered other attempts against sites in Romania, including international military facilities or those used to train Ukraine's armed forces. The aim of such actions is intimidation, undermining defence capacity and weakening states' contribution to European and regional security, the service warned.
How recruits are drawn in
Intelligence notes that recruitment for sabotage usually happens through social media. People are first offered money for single actions such as watching or photographing certain sites; later the tasks become more serious and can reach destruction, arson or even killings. If recruits refuse, coordinators can resort to pressure and blackmail, exploiting financial vulnerability, addictions or a criminal past. To hide their identity and movements, members often use transport, housing and means of payment registered to other people, and communicate through SIM cards from third countries and encrypted messaging apps.
The SRI continues checks together with the organised-crime and terrorism investigation directorate, the defence ministry's General Directorate of Intelligence and the interior ministry. Romanian President Nicusor Dan recently pointed to a growing number of Russian provocations in the EU, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he had data suggesting Russia's hybrid war against Europe may escalate by Christmas. More in World.