Romanian intelligence thwarts Russian-coordinated sabotage operation

On September 8, 2026, the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) announced the thwarting of a sabotage operation allegedly coordinated by Russia. A 40-year-old Russian citizen residing in Romania has been taken into custody by the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) following a multi-month investigation that began in February 2026.

According to official reports, the suspect spent months tracking, photographing, and recording videos of strategic military infrastructure, including NATO-related facilities and Ukrainian ANTONOV transport aircraft stationed on Romanian territory. Authorities indicate that the suspect was directed by a handler to collect this intelligence, which was intended to facilitate future sabotage acts. The SRI noted that the operation followed patterns of behavior consistent with previous Russian-led destabilization efforts across Europe, specifically citing the exploitation of vulnerable individuals for illegal activities.

The case is being handled by DIICOT as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into attempted sabotage. The suspect remains under detention while authorities continue to assess the scope of the collected intelligence and identify further links to Russian interests. This incident occurs amid heightened tensions as European nations continue to report a rise in cyberattacks, sabotage, and disinformation campaigns attributed to Moscow.