BUCHAREST: Romanian President Nicușor Dan has strongly condemned alleged Russian involvement in acts of sabotage on Romanian territory, describing such actions as a serious violation of the country’s sovereignty and security.
In a statement, President Dan said Russia had for years employed various methods to weaken European democracies, including attempts to influence electoral processes, disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks and acts of sabotage.
He said these activities formed part of a broader campaign of hybrid warfare aimed at creating divisions within European societies and undermining their commitment to collective security and defence.
The Romanian president also expressed concern over what he described as an escalation of Russian provocations against civilian shipping in the Black Sea in recent weeks.
“These are not isolated, unrelated incidents,” he said, warning that such actions were intended to weaken European states from within and erode solidarity among them.
President Dan called for heightened vigilance and continuous risk assessment in response to the growing threat of hybrid warfare. He said Romanian state institutions would take decisive action to prevent such incidents, identify those responsible and protect citizens and critical infrastructure.
He reaffirmed Romania’s commitment to close cooperation with its NATO allies and European Union partners, stressing that a united and coordinated response was essential to addressing security challenges.
The president commended officials from the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI), the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI), the Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) and the General Directorate of Military Intelligence (DGIA) for their role in identifying those who allegedly started a fire at the Carfil industrial site and those ultimately responsible for the incident.
He said the investigation highlighted the growing use of social media by hostile actors to recruit and manipulate individuals into participating in illegal activities.
President Dan urged the public to exercise caution when engaging with online content and remain alert to attempts at manipulation and recruitment for unlawful purposes.
He also thanked Romania’s international partners for their cooperation with Romanian agencies, emphasising that an effective response to such threats required solidarity, coordination and the collective ability to act.
The statement underscored Romania’s determination to strengthen national security and work with its European and NATO partners to counter alleged acts of sabotage and other forms of hybrid warfare.
