Germany prepares comprehensive protective shield against Russian sabotage

Germany is preparing what Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt describes as a broad response to Russian sabotage and other hybrid attacks, following an attempted drone attack involving explosives at Leipzig/Halle airport.

The package would expand the Federal Police’s mobile anti-drone unit. Rapidly deployable teams equipped with helicopters and special vehicles would be based in Frankfurt am Main, Munich, Hamburg, Berlin, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, Leipzig, Hanover and Cologne. Their mission would include protecting airspace over major transport hubs, airports, railway stations and Berlin’s government district.

The units would not only detect and intercept drones. They would also be expected to disable unmanned aircraft carrying explosives. A separate proposal would give operators of critical infrastructure, including water utilities, energy companies and defense-industry facilities, legal authority to detect and actively counter drones without waiting for state forces to arrive.

The plan also envisages broader use of artificial intelligence, biometric facial recognition and video surveillance, particularly at railway stations. AI systems would be used to detect weapons and suspicious behavior automatically and to identify people suspected of preparing attacks or engaging in espionage.

For cyber defense, Germany plans a national Cyberdome, described as a broad network of digital sensors designed to detect and block attempted hacker attacks. Dobrindt said, “Russia's hybrid attacks using explosive-laden drones targeting airports, agents in our cities, cyberattacks on our networks and sabotage of our infrastructure are a daily reality. These attacks will intensify, but we can fight back and protect ourselves.” Germany directly accused Russia of a hybrid attack at Leipzig airport in early August and announced countermeasures on Sept. 1.

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Russia's hybrid attacks using explosive-laden drones targeting airports, agents in our cities, cyberattacks on our networks and sabotage of our infrastructure are a daily reality. These attacks will intensify, but we can fight back and protect ourselves.