Russia to close German consulate in St Petersburg and Goethe-Institut branches after Leipzig drone incident

Russia is closing Germany's consulate general in St Petersburg and the Goethe-Institut's cultural branches in the country, presenting the moves as a response to Berlin's actions after a drone incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport.

Russia's Foreign Ministry informed Germany's chargé d'affaires in Moscow that the St Petersburg consulate must stop operating no later than September 18. All its employees must leave Russian territory by that date, the ministry said.

The ministry also ordered the closure of the German Goethe-Institut centres in Russia. Staff at all branches must leave by September 13. The relevant diplomatic notes were handed to the head of Germany's mission in Moscow.

Moscow said the decisions followed what it called Germany's "unfriendly actions" in closing the Russian consulate general in Bonn and the Russian House of Science and Culture in Berlin. Berlin took those measures after officially accusing Russia of direct involvement in a hybrid attack at Leipzig Airport in early August.

On August 4, authorities found a drone carrying explosives near a Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport. The aircraft was being used to transport military cargo.