Russian sabotage network responsible for Romanian fire, prosecutors say

Romania’s intelligence service has uncovered a sabotage network directed by Moscow, linking the group to a September fire at an industrial site near a state-owned weapons company.

The EU and Nato member state, which shares a border of more than 600 km (370 miles) with Ukraine, is facing a hybrid war waged by Russia to destabilise nations supporting Kyiv, centrist president Nicusor Dan said.

The hostile acts range from drone incursions into Romanian airspace to cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, sabotage, and strikes on cargo vessels near Romanian waters, according to Dan.

Russia's embassy in Bucharest could not immediately be reached for comment outside business hours, though Moscow has repeatedly denied such accusations.

Romanian organised crime prosecutors are seeking the extradition of two Belarusian suspects apprehended in Germany and a Ukrainian detained in Poland over their alleged involvement in the arson case.

Intelligence officials said all three belonged to the network coordinated by Russia, whose handlers assigned targets including state and private weapons facilities alongside other military and industrial interests.

A year ago, Poland and Romania detained eight people suspected of involvement in a Russian plan to send exploding parcels to Ukraine.

Dan accused Russia of escalating its attacks on Nato's eastern flank this month following a series of drone strikes on cargo ships in the Black Sea.

At least eight vessels have been hit off the coast of Nato members Romania and Bulgaria in the past three weeks, with around 34 sailors reported dead or missing.