Germany blames Russia for drone attack on Leipzig airport

Germany has accused Russia of responsibility for a drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport and responded with a series of measures against Moscow. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said Germany was not at war but faced daily hybrid attacks, as he raised the national threat assessment from “general” to “high.”

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We are not at war, but we are a daily target of hybrid attacks

Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul ordered the closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn and the Russian House cultural center in Berlin. Germany is also tightening controls on Russians entering the country. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said EU foreign ministers would announce a clear response, including additional sanctions, later in the week.

The incident began overnight on Aug. 4, when authorities found an explosive-laden drone inside a secure area near the airport’s southern runway, which serves cargo flights. A bomb disposal robot removed the detonator. Images showed the robot near a Ukrainian cargo aircraft. On Aug. 5, a second flying object struck a cargo plane near the airport, causing minor damage. The aircraft later landed safely in Hannover.

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clear response

A US defense official in Europe previously told CNN that the drone belonged to a Russian intelligence service and carried military-grade explosives. German media later reported that a third drone had been found in a field near the airport, raising the possibility that several drones were involved. Russia called the accusations absurd. President Vladimir Putin accused Germany of planting evidence, without providing evidence for the claim, while ambassador Sergey Nechayev called the allegations unsubstantiated and warned of retaliation.

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NATO will continue to strengthen our ability to deter and defend all Allies against any threat, including malign actions like those seen in Leipzig

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte welcomed Germany’s measures and said the alliance’s commitment to Ukraine remained unwavering. Germany’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office, which is handling the case, declined to comment because the investigation is ongoing. Leipzig/Halle is one of Europe’s busiest cargo airports and has hosted Ukraine’s Antonov Airlines since Russia destroyed its base in Hostomel.

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unsubstantiated, absurd, and irrational