Germany formally blamed Russia on Tuesday for an attempted drone strike at Leipzig/Halle Airport on August 4, where an explosive-laden drone was found near Ukrainian cargo aircraft and defused after its detonator failed. A second drone is suspected of striking a DHL aircraft, and a third drone was discovered at the airport 10 days later, prompting federal prosecutors to call the incident a serious attack on Germany's transport and logistics infrastructure.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the device's components matched those used in prior Russian hybrid operations, while Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul announced the closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn from September 18, termination of the Russian House cultural centre contract in Berlin, tighter entry controls for Russian nationals, and new EU sanctions listings. Moscow rejected the allegations, with foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova threatening a mirror-image response and accusing Berlin of sponsoring terrorism.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged full solidarity with Germany and said the bloc was preparing additional sanctions, while Wadephul summoned Russian ambassador Sergei Nechayev. The airport serves as a cargo and military logistics hub used by NATO and Ukraine's Antonov Airlines, and Dobrindt warned that Germany expects further hybrid attacks.