Germany has stated that Russia was behind the drone attack at Leipzig's airport last month.
A drone carrying an explosive device was found at Leipzig/Halle Airport in eastern Germany on August 4, near Ukrainian cargo planes. It failed to detonate due to a faulty detonator, and investigators suspect a second drone collided with a cargo aircraft nearby. A third drone was reportedly discovered near the airport 10 days later.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that the Leipzig airport attack aligned with the "well-established pattern of Russian hybrid operations in Europe" and that Germany was expected to be targeted again. The Russian embassy in Berlin dismissed the allegation as "absurd".
Dobrindt asserted that an examination of the equipment used, combined with intelligence findings, confirmed Russian involvement in the attack.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul announced the closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn and the termination of the contract for the Russian House in Berlin, which has been widely perceived as a hub for espionage and Russian propaganda. He also indicated plans for stricter entry controls for Russian nationals and increased pressure on Russia's "shadow fleet" of older tankers used to circumvent Western sanctions following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Wadephul confirmed he had summoned Russia's ambassador to Germany, Sergei Nechayev, who was seen arriving at the foreign ministry shortly after the announcement.
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia's foreign ministry, stated that Moscow would respond in a "mirror-image" manner to Germany's actions. The Russian embassy characterized the measures as an "unprecedented escalation in Russian-German relations" and accused Berlin of "sponsoring terrorism" in reference to its military and economic support for Ukraine.
There have been prior suggestions of Russian responsibility, though Russia has consistently denied involvement.
Leipzig/Halle Airport is a significant hub for Germany's military and NATO allies for transporting military goods, and it also serves as a base for Ukraine's Antonov Airlines, which handles a substantial portion of the country's air cargo.
NATO head Mark Rutte expressed "full solidarity with Germany" and welcomed the announced measures. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen affirmed the EU's "resolve to stand against Russian aggression" and announced that the EU was preparing additional sanctions against Russia.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk remarked that Russia was "escalating tension across the whole region." Polish prosecutors are investigating potential foreign intelligence involvement in a fire at a drone component factory. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that "Russian attempts to undermine our united resolve and our willingness to support Ukraine are futile and doomed to fail."
Germany has reported drone sightings at airports and military sites over the past year. Previously, Berlin had only indicated that "foreign powers" might be involved in the Leipzig attack. US media had already reported that American officials linked the incident to Russia.
Berlin has warned that Germany is a "daily target" of hybrid warfare, and Chancellor Friedrich Merz cautioned that perpetrators of hostile acts against Germany would "pay a price."
The German government is considering enhancing the powers of its intelligence services to counter such threats.
Germany is a major supporter of Ukraine, with Merz being a vocal proponent of aid to Kyiv. However, an MP from Merz's Christian Democrats (CDU) party criticized the measures taken against Russia as insufficient, stating that Moscow "just laughs" when its ambassador is summoned. Roderich Kiesewetter called for "courage and resolve, not self-deterrence and appeasement" from Germany.
The announcement comes at a sensitive time for Merz's government, with a key state election in Saxony-Anhalt potentially leading to the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) gaining power. The AfD advocates for halting support to Ukraine and restoring ties with Russia.
In a separate incident, German police are investigating the discovery of improvised explosive and incendiary devices at a power substation in Brandenburg, which caused a temporary power outage. The perpetrators are currently unknown.
