Germany Identifies Two Suspects in Planned Attack, With Links Leading to Russia

German investigators believe they have identified two men linked to an attempted drone attack on a Ukrainian transport aircraft at Leipzig/Halle airport in early August. The suspected trail leads through Russia, Latvia, Belarus and several European countries.

According to information from Süddeutsche Zeitung, NDR and WDR, one suspect was born in Russia and holds a Latvian passport. Investigators believe he played a logistical and instructional role in planning the operation and was connected to a Russian intelligence service. He allegedly entered Germany through Berlin’s BER airport near the end of July, drove to Leipzig in a rented car and left Germany by air two days before the failed attack.

The second suspect is a Belarusian man who holds a Russian passport. Investigators found DNA traces on one of the drones, on the inside of a can filled with explosives and on an antenna attached to a tree near the airport. The antenna apparently helped strengthen the signal used to control the drones through a mobile network.

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A high level of technical expertise and a significant organisational effort.

Comparisons with European databases reportedly produced matches in Lithuania and Finland. Investigators then linked the traces to the Belarusian man, who had already been recorded in several countries in connection with other crimes. German authorities also reconstructed his travel to and from the country. He allegedly entered on an Italian tourist visa issued by Italy’s diplomatic mission in Minsk at the end of April.

Germany has blamed Russia for the August 4 attack. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt called it professionally planned and carried out, with “a high level of technical expertise and a significant organisational effort.” He said the investigation pointed to people acting on the orders of Russian state structures and described them as “low-level agents.” The authorities have not released the suspects’ names or explained publicly why investigators connected their alleged handlers to Russian intelligence. The investigation remains open, and it is uncertain whether either suspect will ever appear before a German court.

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Low-level agents.