ISTANBUL 

Romania’s Intelligence Service (SRI) said Tuesday that it thwarted a sabotage operation allegedly orchestrated by Russian intelligence on Romanian soil.

The plot involved two Ukrainian citizens who acted under the “direct coordination of Russian operatives” and attempted to plant incendiary devices disguised as parcels at the Bucharest headquarters of Nova Post, a Ukrainian courier company, according to the SRI.

The attempted attack, the SRI said, took place on Oct. 14-15, when the suspects entered Romania from Poland and deposited two packages containing improvised explosive and incendiary devices.

The devices, concealed inside car parts and headphones, were designed for remote detonation, the agency said.

Specialized SRI teams detected and neutralized the explosives before they could be triggered, preventing what authorities described as a potential “intentional or accidental ignition.”

Preliminary forensic tests revealed that the devices contained thermite and barium nitrate, materials previously linked to sabotage operations attributed to Russian intelligence across Europe. The suspects also employed “counter-surveillance techniques typical of intelligence services,” the SRI said.

Evidence collected during the investigation reportedly confirms that the two individuals are part of a wider Russian-controlled network targeting European infrastructure. Similar sabotage attempts have previously been directed at Nova Post facilities in other countries.

Poland also detained eight people suspected of preparing acts of sabotage, according to Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who said the suspects were detained in recent days by the Internal Security Agency in various parts of the country.