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Germany blames Russia for Leipzig Airport drone attack

Published : Friday, 4 September, 2026 at 2:38 PM

Observer Online Report

Collected Photo

Germany has accused Russia of being behind a drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport last month, prompting Berlin to announce tougher measures against Moscow.

A report by BBC stated, a drone carrying an explosive device was found at the airport in eastern Germany on August 4, near Ukrainian cargo planes. The device failed to explode, apparently because its detonator was faulty. Investigators also suspect that a second drone collided with a nearby cargo aircraft. A third drone was reportedly found near the airport 10 days later.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the attack followed the “well-established pattern of Russian hybrid operations in Europe”. He said Germany could be targeted again.

Dobrindt said an examination of the equipment used in the incident, along with intelligence findings, had established Russian involvement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday accused Germany of planting evidence to blame Moscow for the attempted attack. He provided no evidence for the claim. The Russian embassy in Berlin described Germany’s allegation as “absurd.”

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, speaking alongside Dobrindt at a press conference in Berlin, said he would order the closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn. The contract for the Russian House in Berlin would also be terminated.

Wadephul said he had summoned Russian Ambassador to Germany Sergei Nechayev. He was seen arriving at the German Foreign Ministry shortly after the announcement.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Moscow would respond to Germany’s measures in a “mirror-image” manner. The Russian embassy described the measures as an “unprecedented escalation in Russian-German relations”.

“Berlin is sponsoring terrorism,” Zakharova told the German Press Agency, referring to Germany’s military and economic support for Ukraine.

Security experts had previously suspected Russian involvement in the Leipzig incident. Moscow has consistently rejected such allegations.

Leipzig/Halle Airport is used by Germany’s military and NATO allies to transport military goods. It is also a base for Ukraine’s Antonov Airlines, which carries much of the country’s air cargo.

Germany has previously reported drone sightings near airports, military facilities and industrial sites. Berlin had until now avoided directly identifying those behind the Leipzig incident, saying only that foreign powers could have been involved.

US media had earlier reported that American officials had linked the incident to Russia.

Berlin has warned that Germany is a “daily target” of hybrid warfare. Chancellor Friedrich Merz last week warned that those responsible for hostile acts against Germany would “pay a price.”

The German government is also seeking greater powers for its intelligence services to counter such threats.

Germany is a key supporter of Ukraine, with Merz taking a firm position in support of Kyiv. However, CDU lawmaker Roderich Kiesewetter said the measures taken against Russia so far were insufficient.

He said Russia “just laughs” when its ambassador is summoned and called for greater resolve from the German government.

In a separate development, German police said they were investigating the discovery of improvised explosive and incendiary devices at a power substation in Brandenburg on Tuesday.

A power line was damaged, causing a temporary power outage. It remains unknown who planted the devices.

-SA