The German government says Russia was responsible for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport last month and ordered a series of countermeasures in response, including the closure of a consulate and a Russian cultural center. Officials in Berlin directly laid the blame for the incident at Moscow’s door, saying evidence gathered at the scene last month indicated that Russia was behind it. “The means used, such as the drone configuration, components, explosives and detonation systems, are known to us from other hybrid operations by Russia and its war against Ukraine,” Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said during a press conference on Tuesday. On August 4, an explosives-laden drone was discovered near a Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft used for military supplies at the airport in eastern Germany, which is a key hub for NATO and Kyiv. Investigators suspect a second drone may have collided with a DHL cargo plane soon after the airport was temporarily shut down, and a third device was reportedly discovered days later to the west of the site. Wadephul said Russia’s consulate in Bonn would be shut down in response to the attack, as well as Berlin’s Russia House, part of Moscow’s network of cultural centers. A number of suspected hybrid warfare incidents have been reported over the last few weeks across Europe. German police launched an investigation on Tuesday after finding explosives at a power plant close to the Polish border, with local officials describing the incident as "sabotage." “We do not view Leipzig as an isolated incident, but rather see it in the context of other hybrid actions,” Wadephul told reporters. Germany’s foreign minister added that authorities assume Germany will be subjected to “further hybrid attacks by Russia,” but said his country is “not at war.” Germany vows to back Ukraine Wadephul said Berlin would work closely with NATO and the EU to carry out a response to Russia’s actions, and that the country would continue to back Ukraine against the Kremlin’s “aggression.” “Our message to the Russian leadership is clear,” he said. “We are sticking to our security course. The attack on Leipzig shows that this is necessary.” Key European leaders issued statements of solidarity with Germany – with many pointing to other alleged sabotage or hybrid warfare cases across the continent. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance stands in “full solidarity with Germany” and that Russian attempts to “intimidate” and “undermine unity” within NATO would fail. ‘Russia will not win’ Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also condemned Russia for the incident. “Poland, the Baltic states, Romania, and now Germany. Russia is escalating tensions across the whole region,” he said. “We’ll not be intimidated and our response will be continued support for Ukraine and full coordination of NATO states against the aggressor. Russia will not win this war,” Tusk added. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said that Poland stands behind “every ally attacked by Russia’s hybrid war.” “It’s good that Germany is following Poland’s example and, in response to state terrorism, is closing the Russian consulate in Bonn. In the face of hybrid warfare, full solidarity with our German allies.” Russian response The authorities in Russia have long denied accusations of hybrid warfare activities in NATO member states. Responding to German statements on Tuesday, foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Berlin of “anti-Russian action”, adding that it would respond to the measures taken by Germany, Reuters reported, citing Russian news agency Interfax. Zakharova also accused Berlin of “sponsoring terrorism” by backing Kyiv, it was reported.
German officials said the drone incident had many of the hallmarks of Russian hybrid activity. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
