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The Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) stated on Tuesday that it has foiled a Russian sabotage operation on Romanian territory involving a suspect who was allegedly instructed to photograph and film strategically important military targets, including Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft.
SRI said the suspect, a Russian citizen based in Romania, had been under surveillance since February as part of an investigation involving international partners. His actions repeated a pattern seen in previous cases, the intelligence service added.
The investigation also revealed that Russia continues to use people from vulnerable categories to carry out illegal activities, according to SRI.
The Romanian case comes as Ukraine’s European allies seek to counter what they describe as a broader Russian campaign to destabilize countries supporting Kyiv.
European governments have increasingly linked suspected sabotage, cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns to Moscow, while the European Union has also accused Russian state and non-state actors of malicious cyber activity targeting member states and critical infrastructure.
On Aug. 4, German authorities found a drone carrying explosives and a detonator near a Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport, a major logistics hub that supports Ukrainian and NATO operations. The drone was defused without causing harm.
Germany later blamed Russia for orchestrating the attempted attack, saying the drone’s configuration and components were consistent with previous Russian hybrid operations.
Russia rejected the accusations, describing Germany’s claims as baseless and politically motivated.
Romania has also faced a growing number of security incidents stemming from the war in neighboring Ukraine, particularly along its Black Sea coast and border with Ukraine.
Romanian Defense Ministry data updated Sept. 7 shows 134 attacks near the border, 44 unauthorized airspace or maritime incursions, four drones shot down and 70 drones or drone fragments identified since the start of the war.
In 2026 alone, authorities have recorded 67 attacks near the border, 25 unauthorized-access incidents and four drones shot down.
In May, a Russian drone crashed into an apartment building in the eastern city of Galati during a Russian attack on Ukraine, injuring two people.
In July, Romanian F-16s shot down three Russian drones that entered Romanian airspace. In August, a Spanish NATO F-18 operating from Romania shot down another drone after it breached Romanian airspace. NATO later said the aircraft appeared to be Russian.
Romania has also faced threats to critical infrastructure. On Aug. 20, a Romanian F-16 destroyed an explosive-laden maritime drone near the Neptun Deep offshore gas project after authorities determined that it could threaten workers and energy infrastructure.
Defense Minister Radu Miruta said Ukraine had confirmed that the drone was not Ukrainian, while President Nicusor Dan blamed Russia for the incident.
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