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🇦🇺 Australia /Conflict & Security

Russia calls accusations over Leipzig drone incident the “start of a real war”

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said accusations that Moscow was involved in the Leipzig Airport drone incident amounted to “the start of a real war.”
  • Germany said its conclusion that Russia was responsible was clear and legally sound, and announced measures including the closure of a consulate and a Russian cultural centre.
  • Berlin plans expanded counter-drone capabilities and a national “cyberdome” as officials warn that hybrid attacks have become part of daily reality.

Russia has described Germany’s accusation over an alleged drone attack at Leipzig Airport as the beginning of a direct confrontation. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the claims were “by and large, the start of a real war” and accused Chancellor Friedrich Merz of effectively declaring war on Moscow.

By and large, the start of a real war.

· Sergei LavrovRussia’s foreign minister described the accusations over the Leipzig drone incident.

The German government said on Sept. 1 that it had concluded Russia was responsible for the alleged incident at Leipzig Airport the previous month. Berlin responded with measures including the closure of a consulate and a Russian cultural centre in the German capital. Moscow has rejected the allegation, denied involvement in the airport incident and accused Berlin of planting evidence to frame Russia.

Merz said the attribution was “clear and legally sound.” Speaking at a party event near Hanover, he said the incident showed Germany was facing a “profound rupture,” whose far-reaching consequences would become clear only in retrospect. He also warned Russia not to continue what Germany calls hybrid warfare.

He is, in effect, declaring war on us.

· Sergei LavrovLavrov accused German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of escalating the dispute.

Germany is preparing a broader security response. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told Bild am Sonntag that an anti-sabotage shield, known as a “cyberdome,” would form part of the measures. The plan includes expanding police drone-defence capabilities and stationing rapidly deployable counter-drone units in cities to protect airspace over transport hubs and government districts.

Clear and legally sound.

· Friedrich MerzThe German chancellor described the government’s attribution of responsibility to Russia.

Operators of critical infrastructure, including power utilities and defence manufacturers, would receive legal authority to do more than detect drones and actively counter them. The proposed national shield would also use digital sensors to detect and intercept hacking attempts, while the government plans greater use of artificial intelligence, biometric facial recognition and video surveillance to identify suspected saboteurs. U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said NATO members should not tolerate deliberate hybrid warfare.

These attacks will increase, but we can defend and protect ourselves.

· Alexander DobrindtGermany’s interior minister described the planned response to alleged Russian hybrid attacks.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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