Germany has accused Russia of being responsible for a failed drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport last month, escalating tensions between Berlin and Moscow.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the 4 August incident followed the “well-established pattern of Russian hybrid operations in Europe”, warning that Germany could face further attacks.
A drone carrying an explosive device was discovered at the airport in eastern Germany, near Ukrainian cargo aircraft. The device failed to detonate, apparently because of a faulty detonator, while investigators suspect a second drone collided with a nearby cargo aircraft.
A third drone was reportedly discovered close to the airport 10 days later.
Dobrindt said analysis of the equipment used in the operation, alongside intelligence findings, had established Russian involvement.
President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday accused Germany of planting evidence to blame Moscow for the attempted attack, but provided no evidence to support the claim.
The Russian Embassy in Berlin dismissed the allegation as “absurd”, while Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Germany of “sponsoring terrorism” through its military and economic support for Ukraine.
In response to the alleged Russian operation, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul announced a series of measures against Moscow.
Wadephul said Germany would close the Russian consulate in Bonn and terminate the contract for the Russian House in Berlin, which critics have accused of being used for espionage and Russian propaganda.
Germany will also tighten entry controls for Russian nationals and increase pressure on Russia’s so-called shadow fleet — ageing tankers used to circumvent Western sanctions imposed after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Wadephul said he had summoned Russia’s ambassador to Germany, Sergei Nechayev, to the Foreign Ministry following the announcement.
Zakharova said Moscow would respond to Berlin’s measures in a “mirror-image” fashion, while the Russian Embassy described them as an “unprecedented escalation in Russian-German relations”.
Germany’s announcement has received backing from its NATO and European allies.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the alliance “stands in full solidarity with Germany”, adding that “the evidence is clear” and welcoming Berlin’s response.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union was “united in our resolve to stand against Russian aggression” and announced that the bloc was preparing additional sanctions against Moscow.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also accused Russia of “escalating tension across the whole region”.
The development comes amid growing concern across Europe over suspected Russian hybrid operations, including drone activity around airports, military installations and industrial sites.
Leipzig/Halle Airport is a major logistics hub used by Germany’s military and NATO allies to transport military equipment. It is also a base for Ukraine’s Antonov Airlines, which handles much of the country’s aerial cargo.
Germany had previously avoided publicly identifying those behind the Leipzig incident, saying only that “foreign powers” could have been involved. US officials had reportedly also linked the incident to Russia.
Berlin has warned that Germany is becoming a “daily target” of hybrid warfare, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently said those responsible for hostile acts against Germany would “pay a price”.
The government is seeking greater powers for its intelligence agencies as it attempts to strengthen Germany’s ability to counter espionage, sabotage and other forms of hybrid warfare.
The latest measures come at a politically sensitive time for Merz’s government, particularly ahead of a key state election in Saxony-Anhalt, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) could potentially enter state government for the first time.
The AfD, Germany’s largest opposition party, has called for an end to military support for Ukraine and improved relations with Russia.
Meanwhile, German police are investigating a separate incident involving improvised explosive and incendiary devices discovered at a power substation in Brandenburg.
A power line was damaged during the incident, causing a temporary power outage. Authorities have yet to establish who planted the devices or whether the incident was connected to the wider security concerns.
Boluwatife Enome
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