Romania's Minister of Economy, Digitalisation, Entrepreneurship and Tourism Daniel Zamfir is condemning any act of sabotage directed against Romania and its national defence industry, saying that the identification of a coordinated network from the Russian Federation, involved in causing the fire at Carfil Brasov, represents an alarm signal that must be treated with the utmost seriousness.

'I am strongly condemning any act of sabotage directed against Romania, its national defence industry and the strategic facilities of the state. The information communicated by the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) regarding the identification of a coordinated sabotage network in the Russian Federation, involved in the fire of September 14, 2026 on the Carfil industrial platform in Brasov, is an alarm signal and must be treated with the utmost seriousness,' Daniel Zamfir is quoted as saying in a press statement released by the ministry.

According to the minister, the national defence industry is a strategic economic sector and an essential component of national security and 'any attempt to sabotage industrial infrastructure, intimidate personnel or affect production facilities represents a direct threat to the national interest.'

In his opinion, the Carfil case shows that the risks to the economy are not limited to commercial or competitive pressures.

'In the current security context, they can take the form of deliberate sabotage operations, aimed at causing damage, generating insecurity and undermining confidence in the state's ability to protect its strategic infrastructure,' the minister says.

He considers it essential to continue cooperation between security structures, judicial authorities and institutions managing strategic industrial facilities.

Identifying the perpetrators, establishing all the circumstances and preventing similar incidents must remain firm priorities, says Zamfir.

'It is also necessary to strengthen security measures for critical industrial infrastructure, improve prevention mechanisms and increase the capacity to respond to sabotage risks. Protecting the defence industry means not only investments in production and modernisation, but also security, resilience and operational continuity. I appreciate the professionalism of the organisations involved in identifying this network and cooperation with European and transatlantic partners. Threats that go beyond the borders of a single state require European solidarity and an efficient exchange of information.'

In this context, Zamfir calls for vigilance.

'Recruitment attempts for sabotage activities through social media, under the pretext of apparently trivial and remunerated tasks, must be treated with maximum caution. They can hide operations with serious consequences for public safety and national security. Romania will protect its strategic economic interests, industrial facilities and the security of its citizens. No attempt at sabotage will divert us from the objective of building a strong, modern and resilient national defence industry.'

The Department for the Investigation of Organised Crime and Terror (DIICOT) and SRI announced on Monday having documented the criminal activity of three foreign citizens (two Belarusians and one Ukrainian) residing in EU states, members of a coordinated sabotage network in the Russian Federation, involved in the explosion inside the Carfil industrial platform in Brasov, a subsidiary of Romarm.

SRI, together with DIICOT, the Ministry of National Defence - the General Directorate of Defence Intelligence and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, continue the verifications into the sabotage operations identified in Romania. AGERPRES (RO - editing by: Cristian Anghelache; EN - writing by: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu)