Germany Summons Russia’s Ambassador Sergei Nechaev After Leipzig Airport Drone Incident

Germany's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned Russia's ambassador in Berlin, Sergei Nechaev. The reason was the drone incident in Leipzig.This was announced during a press conference by the head of the German foreign policy agency, Johann Wadephul, RIA Novosti reports."I have given the order to summon the Russian ambassador. This meeting is taking place right now," the diplomat stated.On September 1, the German government officially placed the blame on Russia for the drone incident at the Leipzig/Halle airport. The German authorities announced the closure of the Russian consulate general and the Russian House in Berlin. In addition, they intend to tighten controls on the entry of Russians into Germany and will initiate the introduction of new anti-Russian sanctions at the EU level. This was announced during a press conference by the head of the German foreign policy agency, Johann Wadephul, RIA Novosti reports."I have given the order to summon the Russian ambassador. This meeting is taking place right now," the diplomat stated.On September 1, the German government officially placed the blame on Russia for the drone incident at the Leipzig/Halle airport. The German authorities announced the closure of the Russian consulate general and the Russian House in Berlin. In addition, they intend to tighten controls on the entry of Russians into Germany and will initiate the introduction of new anti-Russian sanctions at the EU level. "I have given the order to summon the Russian ambassador. This meeting is taking place right now," the diplomat stated.On September 1, the German government officially placed the blame on Russia for the drone incident at the Leipzig/Halle airport. The German authorities announced the closure of the Russian consulate general and the Russian House in Berlin. In addition, they intend to tighten controls on the entry of Russians into Germany and will initiate the introduction of new anti-Russian sanctions at the EU level. On September 1, the German government officially placed the blame on Russia for the drone incident at the Leipzig/Halle airport. The German authorities announced the closure of the Russian consulate general and the Russian House in Berlin. In addition, they intend to tighten controls on the entry of Russians into Germany and will initiate the introduction of new anti-Russian sanctions at the EU level.

All clues in the investigation lead to a Russian agency, but the German government had so far avoided making the accusation officially. Several Berlin media outlets now advance, however, that Friedrich Merz's government will bring the incident tomorrow before the NATO's permanent, top body and will attribute the Russian authorship of the drone attack on Leipzig airport. Germany will use the NATO ambassadors’ meeting in Brussels to present the allies with evidence of Russian responsibility for the hybrid attack, whose target were several Ukrainian cargo planes stationed at Leipzig at that time. According to information from diplomatic circles, central European allies France and Britain have already bilateral promised Germany their full support for the punitive measures that will follow this accusation. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has also assured Friedrich Merz that he will back the German initiative, according to the same sources, and will seek a united alliance response to Moscow’s hybrid threat, making the Leipzig drone attack attempt a turning point. “Total solidarity with Germany,” he said, and he announced “a strengthening of deterrence and defense capabilities” of the allied countries to confront the threat of hybrid attacks. On August 6, a drone packed with military explosive material was found on the south runway of Leipzig airport, dangerously close to a Ukrainian military cargo plane, an Antonov. Both Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt have concluded in separate investigations that the attack was the work of the Kremlin, and tomorrow they will detail it at a press conference. The German government has announced that, in retaliation, it will close the Russian consulate in Bonn, the country’s second administrative capital, and the House of Russia in Berlin. In addition, entry requirements for Russian visitors will be tightened. The Foreign Ministry has summoned the Russian ambassador to demand explanations and has insisted that they will continue supporting Ukraine despite attacks by Vladimir Putin’s regime. The chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said last week that the attempted attack represents a new level of hybrid threat and that those responsible “will pay the consequences,” without yet naming Russian authorship. In recent hours, Berlin had speculated that he might make the announcement before Sunday, the day regional elections are held in Saxony-Anhalt, where polls show a victory for the far-right, anti-EU, pro-Russia Alternative for Germany (AfD), with the aim of portraying Putin as a threat. Germany’s accusation against Russia comes at a time when numerous NATO and EU countries are pressuring Spain and Greece to provide Ukraine with Patriot intercept missiles, in response to increasing Russian attacks. The drone incident, along with the discovery of a cache of weapons on the outskirts of Berlin also attributed to a Russian agency, has put Europe’s largest economy on maximum alert. Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has noted that Moscow has struck Europe through “a wave of hybrid attacks” that are progressively having a greater impact. According to Kallas, although these operations aim to deter Brussels from helping Ukraine, the EU will continue to support Kyiv in the war against Russia. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, has also shown her “full solidarity” with Germany, signaling a new set of sanctions against Russia and ensuring that “hybrid attacks will not go unanswered.”

Berlin, Sept. 1 (EFE) – The German government on Tuesday held Russia responsible for the hybrid drone attack on the airport in Leipzig, the eastern city where unmanned systems with explosives were found on August 4. “The federal government reaches... the conclusion that Russia is responsible for the hybrid attack carried out in Leipzig on August 4,” said Germany’s Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt at a Berlin press conference alongside Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul. IMAGES: PALOMA ROCHA. CONTAINS STATEMENTS FROM GERMANY’S INTERIOR MINISTER ALEXANDER DOBRINDT. Translations: “The overall assessment of the August 4 attack attempt at Leipzig airport fits the known pattern of Russian hybrid operations in Europe. Intelligence services’ information confirms this result. These data also point to individuals involved who acted on behalf of Russian state bodies. Taken together, the police investigations, the pattern of the incident, and the intelligence information support Russian responsibility for the attack attempt at Leipzig airport. Therefore, the federal government concludes that Russia is responsible for the hybrid attack perpetrated in Leipzig on August 4. The investigations continue and also require the maximum level of information protection during the ongoing procedure.” Most Read - 1. Why the world’s richest country cannot defend its vital infrastructure - 2. Perkins Rocha: “The agreement between Trump and Delcy has been made behind Venezuelans’ backs” - 3. The EU and NATO defend that the Leipzig drone is a hostile act by Russia on European soil - 4. Trump’s oil deal shows that few trust the persistent Chavez-era outlook - 5. Italy tallies eight Moroccans whom it barred entry during the control measures - 6. Trump now proposes renaming the Strait of Hormuz: “Should we call it the Trump Strait?” - 7. Why Putin has the same problem as Trump and Sánchez - 8. Trump formalizes U.S. entry into Venezuelan oil and will decide its distribution - 9. A couple kills their daughter with cerebral palsy and commits suicide in Rome: “We’re alone and we can’t take it anymore” - 10. Honduras’ judiciary closes corruption case against former president Hernández pardoned by Trump

EU struggles for effective answer after Germany blames Russia for foiled drone attack The European Union is grappling with how to respond to an attempted drone attack at a German airport blamed on Russia BRUSSELS -- The European Union on Wednesday weighed how best to respond to an attempted drone attack at a German airport blamed on Russia but struggled to find new ways to meet the challenge without resorting to military means. The German government said Tuesday that Russia was responsible for the failed attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport on Aug. 4 using a drone laden with explosives and announced it would shut down a Russian consulate among other measures. The nature of the incident and its attribution to Russia set a new benchmark. The drone was found near a Ukrainian cargo plane and the device was defused. The airport is a major international freight hub used for providing support to Ukraine. “It is clear that it has all the hallmarks of state sponsored terrorism. The question is: what do we do about this,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters before chairing a meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers in Ireland. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said France summoned Russia’s envoy to “protest strongly” and wants to impose sanctions on more of the Kremlin’s shadow fleet ships. “We won’t allow an act of such gravity without consequences,” Barrot said. The EU has slapped almost two dozen packages of sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine, hitting more than 3,000 officials, oligarchs and entities including banks, energy companies and drone makers. The EU already was preparing to impose more travel bans and asset freezes on another 1,600 people, Kallas said. Hundreds of ships making up the shadow fleet illicitly shipping oil to fuel Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war effort have been targeted too. Russian diplomats have routinely been summoned around Europe, even expelled. The challenge is how to respond in effective ways without going too far. EU member nations, many of them NATO allies, remain cautious about being dragged into open conflict with nuclear armed Russia. Germany insisted it was “not at war” but had become a “daily target” of the Kremlin’s hybrid campaign. Putin dismissed the allegations, saying Berlin wants to distract from its own failings and dissatisfaction among voters. Any proof being offered “has been planted,” Putin said. But German Foreign Minister Johan Wadephul said Berlin had carefully prepared its response “and now Russia must live with these consequences.” He called on Russia “to show that it is also ready for reasonable talks and negotiations, particularly regarding the situation in Ukraine.” Moscow has been widely accused by Western officials of running a yearslong campaign of sabotage and disruption with the aim of undermining support for Ukraine and destabilizing European nations. The failed attack in Germany is one of several worrying incidents reported across Europe. Recent ones include a fire this week at a major drone making factory in Poland. Russia is suspected in many cases. There have also been drone incursions in Estonia and Latvia resulting from Russia’s war in Ukraine. Spain has publicly accused Russia, along with Israel, of using disinformation to incite migrants to cross from Morocco into its Ceuta exclave in northern Africa. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares accused some his EU partners of echoing that fake information, without naming them. “There are a lot of people outside European Union that want to divide us, to make us weak,” he told reporters, clearly linking Spain's migration challenges to the incidents in Germany and elsewhere along Europe's eastern flank. “The land borders of the south of the EU are as important as the eastern borders,” Albares said. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband also attended the EU meeting, along with officials from Ukraine, Canada, Norway, Switzerland and Iceland. “We see an attempt by Russia to divide us in Europe and to deter us from our support for Ukraine,” Miliband told reporters. “This attempt will fail. It will fail because we will stand up to Russian aggression. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with our friends in Ukraine,” he said, for “as long as it takes for them to prevail in this conflict.” ___ Associated Press writer Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin contributed to this report.

German authorities probe suspected sabotage after 2 power substation disruptions Two incidents that disrupted power distribution systems in the west and east of Germany are being investigated as possible sabotage BERLIN -- Two incidents that disrupted power distribution systems in the west and east of Germany are being investigated as possible sabotage, authorities said Wednesday, while one of them was also being examined for possible terrorism links. Multiple explosive devices were found Tuesday morning at a substation near the Jänschwalde coal-fired power plant in Brandenburg in northeast Germany. No general power outage resulted, but only one of the devices caused short circuits, authorities said. Brandenburg police said later on Wednesday on X that it had also launched an investigation into the formation of a terrorist organization “in conjunction with causing an explosion involving explosives and the destruction of important work equipment.” The interior minister of Brandenburg state said that “at this time, we cannot rule out any perpetrators.” “What we are currently experiencing is a hybrid threat, and in that regard, we cannot rule out the possibility that foreign powers are behind it,” Brandenburg Interior Minister Jan Redmann told public broadcaster ARD. Germany is on high alert after the government on Tuesday blamed Russia for an attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport on Aug. 4 using a drone laden with explosives. Emergency responders were on the scene Wednesday searching the area for additional evidence, police said, leading to some road closures. Investigators were combing through the area in large groups, searching the ground for possible clues. Officials described the explosive devices as similar to fireworks, saying that only one of more than a dozen “rocketlike objects equipped with a propellant charge” reached its target. One projectile managed to carry a cable into the high-voltage power line to establish a conductive connection to the ground, the German news agency dpa reported. In a separate incident, a short circuit that caused several power lines to go out of service Tuesday evening at the Bergheim power substation near Cologne in western Germany was a deliberate act, security officials said Wednesday, adding there was no general power outage. RWE, the company operating coal power plants at the Bergheim substation, said five coal-fired units with a combined capacity of 4,200 megawatts were taken offline after the incident. “It wasn’t a broken switch, it was intentional. It was a criminal act,” said Herbert Reul, the interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia state, where Bergheim is located. “We are investigating two possibilities: sabotage directed by a foreign government and left-wing extremism. We cannot rule out either possibility at this time.” “There were bright flashes of light visible along the power lines, the overhead wires. In German, that’s called a short circuit. Several lines were affected,” Reul told reporters Tuesday night. He added that based on the investigation's current status, “the perpetrators deliberately caused a short circuit by placing conductive material — presumably cables — over the overhead line.” Security officials from both regions were in contact and closely checking for possible connections between the Brandenburg and Bergheim incidents, Reul said. “Is this connected to Brandenburg, to the attacks on the railways, to hybrid threats from abroad?” Reul said in response to a question. “The answer is: We are investigating, and very thoroughly at that. But investigating is not the same as knowing, and speculation is not proof.” Three power plants are expected to go back online later on Wednesday. Work is underway to bring the two remaining units back online by the weekend. German power infrastructure has previously been affected under similar circumstances. Suspected left-wing extremists set fire to high-voltage lines near a power plant in southwest Berlin in January. —- Ciobanu reported from Warsaw.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described German anti-Russia actions as the start of a real war. In comments to a reporter on the Russia-1 channel, Pavel Zarubin, Lavrov said: “Leipzig Airport... they found a drone, they said it was Russian, and no one bothered to investigate. This, to a large extent, is the start of a real war.” The minister noted that German authorities announced the closure of the Russian Consulate General in Bonn and the termination of the agreement related to the Russian House activities in Berlin. Lavrov said: “I recall that before the outbreak of World War II, or rather the Great Patriotic War, the Germans also closed their diplomatic missions.” Lavrov also stated that summoning Russian ambassadors to interior ministries of Western countries stems from Europeans’ desire to create an “apparent impression,” adding: “They care about the superficial impact of their steps… They have decided that they can blame us for another incident.” Leipzig police announced in early August the discovery of a drone carrying explosives in a security area of a cargo facility, and Germany accused Russia of being behind the incident without providing concrete evidence, while Moscow called the incident a “deliberate, hastily prepared provocation.” Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Germany has no evidence of any alleged threats from Russia, linking the charges against Moscow regarding the Leipzig drone incident to the deteriorating internal political situation in Germany. Source: agencies

Germany has formally accused Russia of attempting an attack last month at the Leipzig-Halle airport, a state-owned facility in the eastern part of the country. On Tuesday, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said his country’s intelligence community had determined that a drone discovered at the airport was consistent with Russian technology. The drone had been bearing explosives, according to official reports. Recommended Stories list of 3 items- list 1 of 3Ukrainian suspect, a ‘trained scuba diver’, arrested over Nord Stream blast - list 2 of 3Ukraine’s Shakhtar to use ex-Russian-owned Chelsea as Champions League home - list 3 of 3Russia, Ukraine trade attacks as Putin warns of ‘far more destructive’ hits The announcement triggered several retaliatory measures, including the announcement that Germany would shut down a Russian consulate. The incident is seen as part of a growing trend in Europe, where officials fear Russia is mounting a campaign of intimidation against members of the NATO military alliance. What was found at the Leipzig airport? How have officials responded? And what does it say about tensions between Europe and Russia as Moscow’s war in Ukraine drags on? Read on for a quick explainer on the basics. What happened at Leipzig airport? An explosive-laden drone was found near a cargo plane belonging to the Ukrainian firm Antonov Airlines on the evening of August 4. An employee flagged the drone, which was located in a cargo area near a runway, resulting in a temporary shutdown at the Leipzig-Halle airport, a major cargo hub in the eastern German state of Saxony. Specialists were called in to defuse the explosives with a robot. A second drone was reportedly destroyed after it collided with an aeroplane near the airport. Why does Germany blame Russia? Dobrindt, Germany’s interior minister, said investigators identified a configuration and components resembling those seen in Russia’s war against Ukraine. “Taken together, the police investigations, the pattern and intelligence findings prove a Russian responsibility for the attempted attack at Leipzig airport,” Dobrindt said. Germany’s government has not publicly shared specifics connecting the incident to Moscow or released all the evidence. But Dobrindt said the device reflected “a high degree of technical expertise”. He added, however, that the task of carrying out the attack appears to have fallen to “low-level agents”, whom he described as people acting “on behalf of Russian state entities”. He did not specify which ones. How has Germany responded? Germany has taken a series of retaliatory actions since announcing the intelligence community’s findings. Starting on September 18, a Russian consulate in Bonn, a major German city on the Rhine River, will be shuttered. The Russian House, a cultural gathering place in Berlin, will also be closed, though the date has yet to be determined. German leaders said they would also recommend more Russians be added to the European Union’s sanctions list and consider heightening entry controls for Russian citizens. The German Foreign Ministry has also summoned Russia’s ambassador to the country to discuss the incident. How has Russia reacted to Germany’s claims? Moscow has denied it had anything to do with the drone. The Russian Embassy in Berlin called the claims absurd and warned that the accusations would have consequences. Separately, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the government of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of pointing the finger at Moscow to distract from domestic problems and falling approval ratings. He also suggested that Germany had planted evidence to frame Russia for the drone incident. How have NATO and European allies responded? NATO allies like Poland, Italy, the United Kingdom, Sweden and the Czech Republic have all backed Berlin’s claims against Moscow. “Whenever Russian hybrid activities target one of our allies, we are all exposed,” the Czech Foreign Ministry posted on social media. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she would discuss the incident with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and EU foreign ministers are expected to prepare a joint response. How has Ukraine responded? Since February 2022, Ukraine has been battling a war that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbour. There has been speculation that Moscow’s increasing military threats in Europe are designed to weaken NATO support for Kyiv. Ukraine has welcomed Germany’s measures against Russia, with Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksii Makeiev praising Berlin’s response on Tuesday. Germany has been a key strategic partner for Ukraine, and in April, the two countries unveiled a security cooperation agreement that would strengthen joint air defences. As part of the deal, Berlin agreed to fund missile contracts for Kyiv, and the two would collaborate on drone co-production. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that his country’s airspace is becoming increasingly unsafe for civilian aviation, with both sides in the war increasingly relying on drone warfare. What other actions has Russia been accused of in Europe? Critics have long warned that Russia is taking an increasingly aggressive stance towards Europe, which has opposed its invasion of Ukraine. The Associated Press news agency has logged some 200 incidents of sabotage and malign activity in Europe since the 2022 invasion. Those acts include cyberattacks, espionage, disinformation campaigns, arson and interference with infrastructure. One case, in March 2024, involved a warehouse in east London being set on fire. The facility stored aid for Ukraine, and prosecutors blamed the attack on members of the Russian-backed Wagner Group, a paramilitary organisation. Such low-level operations are often called “hybrid” attacks, as they remain below the threshold of open conflict but still succeed in sowing unease through violence. Why are these tensions erupting now? Germany says covert operations like the attempted drone attack at the Leipzig airport are meant to undermine the country’s political backing for Ukraine in its defence against Russia. The war has stretched for more than four years, and Ukrainian officials have warned that the coming winter may prove the most challenging yet. The attempted drone attack also comes at a pivotal time for German politics. On September 6, the eastern province of Saxony-Anhalt is holding elections, and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is hoping to make gains, building in part on public weariness with the war. The AfD has called for strengthening ties with Russia and has been critical of support for Ukraine. It is currently leading in public opinion polls ahead of the vote.

Lavrov: the comments made by Mirz are being put into practice on the ground. Lavrov: Mirz declares war on us. Lavrov: Berlin’s measures recall the beginning of World War II. The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov considered the Western accusations against Moscow of involvement in the drone incident at Leipzig Airport in Germany to be, overall, the start of a real war, as reported by the Russian state news agency TASS today, Sunday. The Russian minister, speaking to the official Russian television, added: “Leipzig, the airport... they found a drone there. They said it was a Russian drone. No one verified that. And this, in truth, is the start of a real war.” Regarding the sanctions Germany has taken, such as closing the Russian Consulate General in Bonn and the Russian cultural center “The Russian House” in Berlin in response to the airport incident, Lavrov said they “remind one of the beginning of World War II.” He was quoted by the Feisty (Vesti) news ticker’s online page as saying that “it seems the Germans want war again.” The texts and answers are generated by artificial intelligence based on reports from Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, so sources attached should be checked. (Beta service) This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and Google’s privacy policy and terms of service apply. The texts and answers are generated by artificial intelligence based on Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reports, so sources attached should be checked. (Beta service) This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and Google’s privacy policy and terms of service apply. Lavrov, referring to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, said: “All these comments Mirz makes about making Germany the leading military power in Europe are being put into practice on the ground. And, effectively, he is declaring war on us.” The German government said on September 1 that it had determined that Russia was responsible for an attempted drone attack targeting Leipzig/Halle airport last month and ordered a series of measures in response, including closing a consulate and a Russian cultural center in Berlin. Russia rejected the German accusations as baseless, accusing Berlin of fabricating evidence to implicate Russia in the incident. Germany holds Russia responsible for the Leipzig airport incident and announces diplomatic measures. In explaining the nature of the countermeasures, German Foreign Minister a.o. announced that Berlin would close the Russian consulate in Bonn later this month and cancel the lease of the “Russian House” in Berlin, a cultural center. He added: “We will tighten entry rules for Russian citizens,” noting that Germany will propose listing more Russians on EU sanction lists. The German minister also pledged to “increase pressure on the Russian ghost fleet (the Shadow),” referring to a fleet of ships used by Russia to evade Western sanctions. The EU External Action Service summoned the Russian ambassador to Brussels following the incident. Interior Minister Alexander Dehbruch explained that, after evaluating the drones’ technology used and other intelligence, the government concluded that Russia was responsible for the hybrid attack that occurred in Leipzig on August 4 (last month). He added: “We do not see Leipzig as an isolated incident, but as part of other hybrid activities,” adding: “We assume Germany is targeted by more hybrid attacks from Russia.” Germany pledges a “decisive” response to the drone attack at Leipzig airport. (Reuters, AFP, AP) A rights group calls for an urgent investigation into the use of the Sudanese army’s chlorine gas. What revelations came from statements and leaks after Putin met with Buttigieg and Kushner? The Israeli army tests its readiness for a surprise war with wide-scale maneuvers.

Summary Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, referring to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, said: "All these comments that Merz makes about making Germany the leading military power in Europe again are being put into practice. He is practically declaring war on us." The Russian government news agency TASS quoted Lavrov on Sunday as saying that the West’s accusations that Moscow was involved in the drone incident at the Leipzig airport are, overall, the start of a real war. Lavrov, referring to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, said, "All these comments about making Germany the leading military power in Europe again are being put into practice. He is practically declaring war on us." Read more This section contains related quotes, placed in the (Related Nodes field) On September 1 of this year, the German government announced that it had concluded that Russia was responsible for a drone attack attempt targeting Leipzig/Halle Airport last month, and ordered a series of measures in response, including the closure of a Russian consulate and a cultural center in Berlin. Moscow rejected the German accusations as baseless, accusing Berlin of fabricating evidence to implicate Russia in the incident.

Moscow: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Germany “wants war again,” rejecting Berlin’s accusations that Moscow was responsible for a drone attack on Leipzig Airport last month. The German government formally blamed Russia last week for the incident, saying Moscow sent operatives to carry out a drone attack loaded with explosives at the airport in eastern Germany. In an interview whose excerpts were published on Sunday by a Russian state broadcaster, Lavrov said, “They expelled members of the consulate general from Bonn. They are closing the Russian House (cultural center) in Berlin. I remind you that these things happened before the outbreak of World War II.” He added, “They want war again,” asserting that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is “moving toward declaring war on us. Lessons of history have not been learned,” recalling Germany’s Nazi past. He stressed, “This is a dangerous phenomenon,” noting that the Russian government will draw the appropriate conclusions from it. Moscow and Berlin have exchanged closing cultural centers after Germany’s accusations against Russia, while EU countries summoned Russian ambassadors. Germany is one of the strongest allies of Ukraine in the war that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukrainian territory in 2022. Germany invaded Soviet territory in 1941, in one of the largest military campaigns of World War II, which marked a turning point ending in Berlin’s fall to the Soviets and Nazi Germany’s defeat led by Adolf Hitler. (AFP)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov commented on Sunday on the Western accusations that Moscow was involved in the drone attack on a German airport. The TASS news agency quoted Lavrov as saying that Western accusations of involvement in the drone incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport constitute, overall, the beginning of a real war. Lavrov, referring to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, added: "All these comments made by Merz about making Germany the leading military power in Europe again are being put into practice. He is practically declaring war on us." The German government said on September 1 that it had concluded that Russia was responsible for the drone attack on Leipzig/Halle Airport last month, and ordered a series of measures in response, including closing a Russian consulate and a cultural center in Berlin. In related news, Russia rejected the German accusations as baseless and accused Berlin of fabricating evidence to implicate Russia in the incident. After the attack, the German government stated that it was considering legal amendments to allow critical infrastructure operators to participate in countering drones, while specifying that the remaining procedures would be the exclusive domain of security authorities. The Sunday edition of Bild am Sonntag revealed that Berlin is seeking a broad package of measures to strengthen defenses against drone and cyber intrusions as well as other forms of Russian sabotage, in the wake of the failed drone attack on the airport last month. The newspaper quoted Interior Minister Nancy Faeser as saying that "Russian multi-pronged attacks have become part of daily reality," and added: "These attacks will increase, but we are capable of defending and protecting ourselves."

European, NATO leaders rally behind Germany after Russia’s 'attempted drone attack' at Leipzig Airport EU officials and European leaders condemn 'attempted drone attack', vow stronger pressure on Moscow and continued support for Ukraine Necva Tastan Sevinc 01 September 2026•Update: 01 September 2026 Archive ISTANBUL European and NATO leaders on Tuesday expressed solidarity with Germany following an “attempted drone attack” at Leipzig Airport attributed to Russia, pledging a coordinated response, stronger deterrence and continued support for Ukraine. European Council President Antonio Costa condemned the attack “in the strongest possible terms,” accusing Moscow of escalating its aggression. “The EU stands in full solidarity with Germany,” Costa said, adding that the bloc would work with Berlin and other member states to increase pressure on Russia “until it shows a willingness to change course.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she had discussed the attack with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and assured him of the EU’s support. “Hybrid attacks will not go without a clear response,” she said, adding that possible additional sanctions would be prepared by EU foreign ministers at their upcoming meeting under the Irish EU presidency. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he had spoken with Merz and reaffirmed the alliance’s solidarity with Germany over the Aug. 4 attack. “The evidence is clear,” Rutte said, welcoming measures announced by Berlin and pledging that NATO would continue strengthening its ability to deter and defend all allies against threats. “Our support to Ukraine is unwavering, as is our ironclad commitment to NATO’s collective defense,” he added. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that attempts to divide allies will not succeed and voiced solidarity with Germany over the alleged Russian hybrid attack at Leipzig Airport. "Attempts to intimidate us or to drive a wedge between Allies will not succeed: hybrid actions against any one of us are a matter of concern for all of us, and will be met with a united response," Meloni said. Finnish President Alexander Stubb said the attack was part of a familiar Russian strategy aimed at intimidating European countries and weakening their support for Ukraine. “It will not succeed,” Stubb said, pledging a united response to threats against European security. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk accused Russia of escalating tensions across the region, citing incidents affecting Poland, the Baltic states, Romania and Germany. “We’ll not be intimidated,” he said, adding that NATO members would maintain full coordination and continue supporting Ukraine. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda warned that hybrid action against any ally would prompt a clear response, saying: “Anyone who attacks us will pay a price.” Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal described the incident as a “reckless act” that had taken alleged Russian hybrid attacks in Europe “to a new and dangerous level.” “Our response must be the opposite: more support for Ukraine and more pressure on Russia,” he said. ‘Full solidarity’ Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson backed Germany’s response and announced that he would chair a meeting of Sweden’s National Security Council. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store also expressed full support for Berlin, saying hybrid attacks against NATO allies were “unacceptable” and would be met with a “powerful response.” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the attempted attack was intended to intimidate Europe but would have the opposite effect. “Denmark stands in full solidarity,” she said, stressing that Copenhagen would not be deterred in its defense posture or support for Ukraine. Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar also said he had assured Merz of Hungary’s solidarity, while Foreign Minister Anita Orban voiced concern over the growing number and intensity of alleged Russian hybrid activities on European soil. She called for stronger resilience, unity and collective preparedness within both the EU and NATO, warning that recent incidents in Germany demonstrated an “increasingly dangerous and reckless pattern of behavior.” Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger described the Leipzig drone attack as another escalation alongside cyberattacks, attempted sabotage and disinformation campaigns. Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot described the attribution made by Berlin as "extremely serious" and said he had ordered the Russian ambassador to be summoned. He backed the measures announced by German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and warned against using the term “hybrid” to downplay the gravity of such incidents. “An operation involving explosives on European soil is an extremely grave hostile act,” Prevot said. “European and Allied territory is not a grey zone where Russia can act with impunity.” Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro expressed full solidarity with Germany, saying allied unity was an essential pillar of collective security.

Germany accuses Russia of being behind a plot involving a drone in Leipzig and announces sanctions Berlin announces the closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn and the Russian cultural center in Berlin, and tightens entry controls for Russian nationals Ayhan Şimşek September 1, 2026•Updated: September 2, 2026 Berlin Germany accused Russia on Tuesday of being behind an attempted drone attack against Leipzig airport last month and announced a series of measures and sanctions against Moscow. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said at a press conference in Berlin that investigators had established that the plot had been planned by Russian intelligence services and carried out by subordinate agents. "The means used — notably the drone configuration, various components, the explosives and the firing systems — correspond to those already observed in other hybrid operations carried out by Russia," Dobrindt said. "A comprehensive assessment of the August 4 attack attempt at Leipzig airport shows that it fits the known pattern of Russian hybrid operations in Europe. Information from intelligence services supports this conclusion and points to individuals acting on behalf of Russian state entities," he added. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, speaking at the same press conference, said he had summoned the Russian ambassador to convey Berlin's protest and to inform Moscow of the response decided by the German government. "The Russian Consulate General in Bonn will close its doors on September 18. The agreement concerning the Russian House in Berlin is also terminated," Wadephul stated. This cultural center in the capital, dating from the Soviet era, has long been considered by Western officials as likely to serve as a cover for intelligence activities. Wadephul noted that Germany had informed its European Union and NATO partners of its decisions and obtained their solidarity. "We will propose new sanctions on Russian nationals on the EU sanctions list in response to hybrid attacks," he continued. "We are strengthening entry controls targeting Russian nationals and increasing pressure on the Russian phantom fleet," he added. *Translated from English by Wafae El Baghouani Germany accuses Russia of being behind a plot involving a drone in Leipzig and announces sanctions

EU struggles to find an effective response after Germany blames Russia for a failed drone attack EU struggles to find an effective response after Germany blames Russia for a failed drone attack BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union on Wednesday weighed how best to respond to an attempted drone attack at a German airport blamed on Russia but struggled to find new ways to meet the challenge without resorting to military means. The German government said Tuesday that Russia was responsible for the failed attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport on Aug. 4 using a drone laden with explosives and announced it would shut down a Russian consulate among other measures. The nature of the incident and its attribution to Russia set a new benchmark. The drone was found near a Ukrainian cargo plane and the device was defused. The airport is a major international freight hub used for providing support to Ukraine. “It is clear that it has all the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism. The question is: what do we do about this,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters before chairing a meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers in Ireland. They discussed sanctions, visa restrictions and shutting Russian consulates, among other measures. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said France summoned Russia’s envoy to “protest strongly” and wants to impose sanctions on more of the Kremlin’s shadow fleet ships. “We won’t allow an act of such gravity without consequences,” Barrot said. A struggle to find more effective options The EU has slapped almost two dozen packages of sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine, hitting more than 3,000 officials, oligarchs and entities including banks, energy companies and drone makers. The EU was already preparing to impose more travel bans and asset freezes on another 1,600 people, Kallas said. Hundreds of ships making up the shadow fleet illicitly shipping oil to fuel Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war effort have been targeted too. Russian diplomats have routinely been summoned around Europe, even expelled. Russia has sometimes seemed immune to such measures. The challenge is how to respond effectively without going too far. EU member nations, many of them NATO allies, remain cautious about being dragged into open conflict with nuclear-armed Russia. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the incident “marks a new escalation on European Union soil,” and that her services “are looking at ways to cut deeper into Russia’s war chest.” She did not elaborate. Not at war, but not at peace either Germany insisted it was “not at war” but had become a “daily target” of the Kremlin’s hybrid campaign. Putin dismissed the allegations, saying Berlin wants to distract from its own failings and dissatisfaction among voters. Any proof being offered “has been planted,” Putin said. But German Foreign Minister Johan Wadephul said Berlin had carefully prepared its response “and now Russia must live with these consequences.” He called on Russia “to show that it is also ready for reasonable talks and negotiations, particularly regarding the situation in Ukraine.” Russia’s foreign ministry on Wednesday summoned Germany’s envoy, Bernd Finke. It said he was told Russia “categorically rejects the completely trumped-up accusations leveled by Berlin regarding Russia’s involvement in the alleged incident at the Leipzig airport.” “The actions of the German authorities will be met with a harsh response,” a ministry statement said, without providing details about what that might entail. Moscow has been widely accused by Western officials of running a yearslong campaign of sabotage and disruption with the aim of undermining support for Ukraine and destabilizing European nations. The failed attack in Germany is one of several worrying incidents reported across Europe. Recent ones include a fire this week at a major drone-making factory in Poland. Russia is suspected in many cases. There have also been drone incursions in Estonia and Latvia resulting from Russia’s war in Ukraine. Concern about Russian attempts to divide the EU Spain has publicly accused Russia, along with Israel, of using disinformation to incite migrants to cross from Morocco into its Ceuta exclave in northern Africa. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares accused some of his EU partners of echoing that fake information, without naming them. “There are a lot of people outside the European Union that want to divide us, to make us weak,” he told reporters, clearly linking Spain’s migration challenges to the incidents in Germany and elsewhere along Europe’s eastern flank. “The land borders of the south of the EU are as important as the eastern borders,” Albares said. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband also attended the EU meeting, along with officials from Ukraine, Canada, Norway, Switzerland and Iceland. “We see an attempt by Russia to divide us in Europe and to deter us from our support for Ukraine,” Miliband told reporters. “This attempt will fail. It will fail because we will stand up to Russian aggression. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with our friends in Ukraine,” he said, for “as long as it takes for them to prevail in this conflict.” Some ministers also raised the idea of using billions of euros in frozen Russian assets to help meet more of Ukraine’s military and economic needs. Attempts to do so last year failed as Belgium, where most of the assets are held, refused to be exposed to Russian retaliation alone. ___ Associated Press writer Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin contributed to this report.

Germany says Russia behind Leipzig airport drone attack Germany has said Russia was responsible for last month's drone attack at Leipzig's airport. A drone carrying an explosive device was discovered at Leipzig/Halle Airport in eastern Germany, close to Ukrainian cargo planes, on 4 August. It failed to explode as the detonator was apparently faulty, and investigators suspect a second drone collided with a cargo aircraft nearby. A third drone was reportedly found near the airport 10 days later. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the Leipzig airport attack followed the "well-established pattern of Russian hybrid operations in Europe" and the assumption was that Germany would be targeted again. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday accused Germany of planting evidence to blame Moscow for the attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport. Putin did not provide evidence for the accusation. Meanwhile, the Russian embassy in Berlin said the allegation that Russia was responsible was "absurd". Dobrindt said examination of the equipment used along with intelligence findings proved Russian involvement in the attack. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who was standing beside Dobrindt at a press conference in Berlin, said he would order the closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn, and the contract for the Russian House in Berlin will also be terminated - which many observers have said has been used for espionage and to spread Russian propaganda. He also announced tighter entry controls for Russian nationals and vowed to increase pressure on Moscow's shadow fleet - old tankers used by Russia to circumvent Western sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Wadephul said he had summoned Russia's ambassador to Germany, Sergei Nechayev. He was seen arriving at the foreign ministry shortly after the announcement. Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia's foreign ministry, said Moscow would respond in a "mirror-image" fashion to Germany's measures while the Russian embassy described the measures as an "unprecedented escalation in Russian-German relations". "Berlin is sponsoring terrorism", Zakharova told the German Press Agency in reference to its military and economic support provided to Ukraine. There have been previous suggestions that the Goethe-Institut in Moscow would have to cease operations if the Germans went through with closing Russian House. Security experts had speculated that Russia may have been responsible, however Russia has always rejected claims of involvement. Leipzig/Halle Airport in the east of the country is used by Germany's military and Nato allies for the transport of military goods and also serves as a base for Ukraine's Antonov Airlines - which carries most of the country's aerial cargo. The head of Nato, Mark Rutte, said the organisation "stands in full solidarity with Germany". "The evidence is clear. And I welcome the measures announced by Germany in response," he wrote on X. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X: "We are united in our resolve to stand against Russian aggression. We will deter anyone who seeks to undermine our freedom and security." She added that the EU was preparing additional sanctions against Russia. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Russia was "escalating tension across the whole region". Polish prosecutors are investigating whether foreign intelligence services were involved in a fire at a factory making drone components on Monday. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: "Russian attempts to undermine our united resolve and our willingness to support Ukraine are futile and doomed to fail." Germany is one of several Nato member states to have reported drone sightings at airports, military and industrial sites over the last year. Berlin has until now been tight-lipped about who may have been behind the Leipzig attack, except to say "foreign powers" may have been involved. US media had already reported that American officials had linked the incident to Russia. Berlin has warned that the country is the "daily target" of hybrid warfare, and Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned last week that those who carried out hostile acts against Germany would "pay a price". The government is looking to boost the powers of its intelligence services, which have long been criticised as relatively toothless, to counter such threats. Germany is a key backer of Ukraine with Merz forthright in his support for Kyiv. However an MP in Merz's Christian Democrats (CDU) party said the measures so far taken against Russia "fall far short of what is required" and Moscow "just laughs" when its ambassador is summoned. "From a self-proclaimed leading nation, I expect courage and resolve, not self-deterrence and appeasement," said Roderich Kiesewetter. It is not hard to imagine why Ukrainian cargo planes at a key German logistics hub might be in Moscow's sights. But this announcement comes at a delicate moment for Merz's government. The AfD, which is Germany's biggest opposition party, wants to stop sending support to Ukraine and reopen ties with Russia. In a separate development, German police said they were investigating the discovery of improvised explosive and incendiary devices at a power substation in the eastern state of Brandenburg on Tuesday. A power line was damaged, which caused a temporary outage. It is not known who planted the devices.

- Published The heads of Nato and the European Commission have warned that Russia is growing increasingly reckless and vowed to respond to a "new normal". "Leipzig marks a new escalation on European Union soil directly attributed to Russia," said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, a day after Germany blamed Russia for a failed drone attack last month on Leipzig airport. "We have to step up and that means being ready to respond to Russia's recklessness faster and better," von der Leyen said. Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte said the whole alliance, which includes the US, stood "in full solidarity with Germany". Russia has rejected German accusations that a drone carrying explosives deliberately targeted a Ukrainian cargo plane on 4 August. The drone was defused by a robot at Leipzig/Halle airport and a second drone is thought to have collided with another cargo plane. A third drone was reportedly found 10 days later at the airport, which is an important Nato hub and is regularly used by Ukrainian Antonov transport aircraft. It was not until Tuesday that the German government said police investigations and intelligence finding had proved that Russia was behind the incidents. The interior minister said that the drone's configuration, components, explosives and detonator were all known from other Russian hybrid operations. Two suspects have reportedly been identified in the Leipzig attack, including a Belarusian with a Russian passport who entered on a tourist visa, and another with Latvian and Russian passports who arrived by plane in Berlin and flew out two days before the failed attack. Berlin has said it will close the Russian consulate in Bonn as well as the Russian House cultural institution, widely suspected in Berlin of acting as a propaganda outlet for the Kremlin. The Russian foreign ministry promised to respond in "mirror-image" fashion and said Berlin had offered no evidence to back its claims. Vladimir Putin has condemned Germany's measures as a serious mistake that "clearly runs counter to the interests of the German people". Asked whether Moscow would be prepared to sever relations with Berlin, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said "maybe", but for now it was giving diplomacy a chance. Critics in Germany suggested the German response was relatively weak, but Berlin has its eye on a more co-ordinated response with its allies, including extended EU sanctions and entry restrictions on Russian visitors across the bloc. Von der Leyen was clear in her statement that the Leipzig attack had involved "military-grade material carried out by Russian operatives on European Union soil". "We will not tolerate it," she said. While she was meeting Rutte in Brussels, EU foreign ministers had gathered at Wicklow in Ireland, where France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said action could be taken on a European level against Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" of ships carrying oil and other cargo aimed at avoiding EU sanctions. Barrot and fellow ministers from Belgium and the Netherlands said they had summoned Russian ambassadors in protest at the attack. Lithuania's Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said it was obvious that Russia saw no political cost in its hybrid operations against European allies. The Leipzig attack was part of a broader pattern of increasingly dangerous incidents, including drones and interference with critical infrastructure, von der Leyen said. Mark Rutte added there had been increased risk to Europeans from drones and missiles crossing into countries on the Alliance's eastern flank, and there had been more "malign activities targeting our territory directly, whether it is fires set in factories producing defence equipment for Ukraine or indeed the Russian hybrid attack in Leipzig". Several acts of suspected sabotage have been reported in Germany in the past 24 hours alone, including two attacks on electricity substations, one in the east and one in the west near Cologne. Although authorities do not yet know who was behind the incidents, North Rhine-Westphalia Interior Minister Herbert Reul said an attack that targeted power lines at Bergheim in western Germany was deliberate and whoever had carried out was attacking the country as a whole. "We are investigating two possibilities: sabotage directed by a foreign state and left-wing extremism," he said. Several power lines failed prompting five power plant units to go offline at two separate coal-fired power stations. Police said six launching devices had been found in a field. High-voltage power lines were damaged near the Jänschwalde coal-fired power plant in Brandenburg early on Tuesday and explosive devices were later found at a substation. Meanwhile, in neighbouring Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said a fire at a factory producing combat drones at Skarżysko-Kamienna, 140km (85 miles) south of Warsaw was a deliberate act of arson and sabotage. Arson has also not been ruled out in a fire at a factory in Lublin on Sunday night. Von der Leyen said sanctions had already been used to deter Russia, and EU foreign ministers were discussing further ways of "cutting deeper in Russia's war chest". The EU has already agreed to loan Ukraine €90bn (£77bn), and von der Leyen said Kyiv had asked for billions of extra euros in funding to help pay for PAC-3 air defence missiles. Work was already taking place on a joint Europe-Ukraine Freyja anti-ballistic missile defence project, she added. She promised that Europe and Nato would just maintain pressure on Moscow but "we will increase it and we will not stop, not until Russia stops bombing and killing innocent children, men and children in Ukraine".

EU and Nato vow to step up pressure on Russia after 'new escalation' in Germany The heads of Nato and the European Commission have warned that Russia is growing increasingly reckless and vowed to respond to a "new normal". "Leipzig marks a new escalation on European Union soil directly attributed to Russia," said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, a day after Germany blamed Russia for a failed drone attack last month on Leipzig airport. "We have to step up and that means being ready to respond to Russia's recklessness faster and better," von der Leyen said. Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte said the whole alliance, which includes the US, stood "in full solidarity with Germany". Russia has rejected German accusations that a drone carrying explosives deliberately targeted a Ukrainian cargo plane on 4 August. The drone was defused by a robot at Leipzig/Halle airport and a second drone is thought to have collided with another cargo plane. A third drone was reportedly found 10 days later at the airport, which is an important Nato hub and is regularly used by Ukrainian Antonov transport aircraft. It was not until Tuesday that the German government said police investigations and intelligence finding had proved that Russia was behind the incidents. The interior minister said that the drone's configuration, components, explosives and detonator were all known from other Russian hybrid operations. Two suspects have reportedly been identified in the Leipzig attack, including a Belarusian with a Russian passport who entered on a tourist visa, and another with Latvian and Russian passports who arrived by plane in Berlin and flew out two days before the failed attack. Berlin has said it will close the Russian consulate in Bonn as well as the Russian House cultural institution, widely suspected in Berlin of acting as a propaganda outlet for the Kremlin. The Russian foreign ministry promised to respond in "mirror-image" fashion and said Berlin had offered no evidence to back its claims. Germany's chargé d'affaires Bernd Finke was summoned to hear Moscow's rejection of Berlin's "entirely unfounded accusations". Vladimir Putin has condemned Germany's measures as a serious mistake that "clearly runs counter to the interests of the German people". Asked whether Moscow would be prepared to sever relations with Berlin, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko answered "maybe", but said for now it was giving diplomacy a chance. Critics in Germany suggested the German response was relatively weak, but Berlin has its eye on a more co-ordinated response with its allies, including extended EU sanctions and entry restrictions on Russian visitors across the bloc. Von der Leyen was clear in her statement that the Leipzig attack had involved "military-grade material carried out by Russian operatives on European Union soil". "We will not tolerate it," she said. While she was meeting Rutte in Brussels, EU foreign ministers had gathered at Wicklow in Ireland, where France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said action could be taken on a European level against Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" of ships carrying oil and other cargo aimed at avoiding EU sanctions. Barrot and fellow ministers from Belgium and the Netherlands said they had summoned Russian ambassadors in protest at the attack. Lithuania's Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said it was obvious that Russia saw no political cost in its hybrid operations against European allies. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said they were working on how to tighten enforcement of existing sanctions, and added there was broad support for an EU visa entry ban on Russian ex-combatants as well as stricter visa limits on Russian tourists. Several EU countries, including Sweden, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain, are pushing for more than €193bn (£165bn) in frozen Russian assets to be used to help Ukraine. The idea was first planned at the end of 2025, and rejected by Belgium where the money is held. However, Belgium's position is unchanged because it fears being held financially liable by the courts. The Leipzig attack was part of a broader pattern of increasingly dangerous incidents, including drones and interference with critical infrastructure, von der Leyen said. Mark Rutte added there had been increased risk to Europeans from drones and missiles crossing into countries on the Alliance's eastern flank, and there had been more "malign activities targeting our territory directly, whether it is fires set in factories producing defence equipment for Ukraine or indeed the Russian hybrid attack in Leipzig". Several acts of suspected sabotage have been reported in Germany in the past 24 hours alone, including two attacks on electricity substations, one in the east and one in the west near Cologne. Although authorities do not yet know who was behind the incidents, North Rhine-Westphalia Interior Minister Herbert Reul said an attack that targeted power lines at Bergheim in western Germany was deliberate and whoever had carried out was attacking the country as a whole. "We are investigating two possibilities: sabotage directed by a foreign state and left-wing extremism," he said. Several power lines failed prompting five power plant units to go offline at two separate coal-fired power stations. Police said six launching devices had been found in a field. High-voltage power lines were damaged near the Jänschwalde coal-fired power plant in Brandenburg early on Tuesday and explosive devices were later found at a substation. Meanwhile, in neighbouring Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said a fire at a factory producing combat drones at Skarżysko-Kamienna, 140km (85 miles) south of Warsaw was a deliberate act of arson and sabotage. Arson has also not been ruled out in a fire at a factory in Lublin on Sunday night. Von der Leyen said sanctions had already been used to deter Russia, and EU foreign ministers were discussing further ways of "cutting deeper in Russia's war chest". The EU has already agreed to loan Ukraine €90bn (£77bn), and von der Leyen said Kyiv had asked for billions of extra euros in funding to help pay for PAC-3 air defence missiles. Work was already taking place on a joint Europe-Ukraine Freyja anti-ballistic missile defence project, she added. She promised that Europe and Nato would just maintain pressure on Moscow but "we will increase it and we will not stop, not until Russia stops bombing and killing innocent children, men and children in Ukraine".

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Kallas calls Leipzig attack 'state-sponsored terrorism' - Breaking The News Home Markets Economy Business Politics World War/Terrorism Technology Crypto Sports Insights [](https://breakingthenews.net/news-feed.xml) [](https://breakingthenews.net/) Download our app Home Markets Economy Business Politics World War/Terrorism Technology Crypto Sports Insights * [](https://breakingthenews.net/news-feed.xml) Kallas calls Leipzig attack 'state-sponsored terrorism' Politics Christian Baha / KM 13 hours ago 1 min read EPA/OLIVIERMATTHYS European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said on Wednesday that the recent Leipzig attack "had all the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism." Speaking to reporters ahead of the informal meeting of foreign ministers from the European Union, Kallas shared that the officials will also discuss additional actions and putting more pressure on Russia as Moscow escalates the conflict. In addition, Russia denied allegations regarding that attack last month, adding that Germany's actions will not be "without consequences." eu-russia relationskallas Share: Related News Kallas: EU talking tougher visa rules for Russians 4 hours ago VDL: EU, NATO to add pressure on Russia 9 hours ago Barrot: Russia tried to destabilize EU with Leipzig attack 10 hours ago Romania: Russia to pay for international law violations 1 September This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Our Terms of Use and Data Protection Policy explain the data we collect, why we collect them, and how we may share them. I Accept

Europe Warns Russia: The Drone-Bomb Attack at Leipzig Airport Will Not Go Unanswered Berlin closes the last Russian consulate in Bonn and the European Union is finalizing the harshest sanctions package against Moscow amid the escalation of hybrid threats The hybrid attack against Leipzig Airport has triggered a chain reaction in the European Union and NATO in support of Germany. As an immediate retaliatory measure, the German government has announced the closure of the last Russian consulate still open in the country, located in the city of Bonn, as well as the breaking of the agreement with the Casa de Rusia cultural center in Berlin. In addition, the German executive will push for community-wide coordination of new sanctions against Moscow, stricter travel restrictions for Russian citizens, and increased pressure on the so-called Russian ghost fleet. Summit in Brussels and the “most significant” sanctions package The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has assured on the social network X that these hybrid attacks “will not go unanswered” and has scheduled a meeting in Brussels with the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, who has guaranteed that the alliance will continue to strengthen its deterrence capabilities. For her part, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, has indicated from Ireland —during an informal defense ministers’ meeting— that the EU is already working on the “most important sanctions to date against Russia.” - Message to Moscow: “Putin tries to scare us into stopping our support for Ukraine. He won’t succeed,” Kallas stated. - Urgent air defense: Kallas urged member states with missile interceptors near expiration to immediately cede them to Kyiv. - International support: French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that Russia’s hybrid attacks are “multiplying in Europe,” joining France and Italy in backing Berlin’s position. The Kremlin speaks of an “unprecedented escalation.” Moscow’s reaction did not take long. Maria Zajárova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, accused Germany of being involved in Ukraine’s “terrorist attacks” on Russian territory and warned that there will be a response to Berlin’s anti-Russia actions. In a similar vein, the Russian embassy in Germany called the accusations “absurd” and described the measures announced by the German government as an “unprecedented escalation” in bilateral relations, assuring that Berlin only seeks to benefit “the militaristic wing of the European elite and arms manufacturers.”

The German government on Tuesday blamed Russia for an attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport last month using a drone laden with explosives, and announced that it would shut down a Russian consulate, among other measures against Moscow. The drone was found near a Ukrainian plane on the evening of Aug. 4 and the device was defused. German officials said at the time that the incident posed a new level of danger. Moscow has been widely accused by Western officials of running a campaign of sabotage and disruption across Europe with the aim of undermining support for Ukraine and destabilizing European nations. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said on Tuesday that authorities found elements such as the drone configuration, components, explosives and detonator that are "known to us from other Russian hybrid operations and its war against Ukraine." He said that the device pointed to "a high degree of technical expertise" and painstaking planning, but that the execution of the plan appears to have been left to "low-level" agents. Kremlin denies reports CIA director warned Russia about attacking NATO countries Could an explosive drone at a German airport signal a growing Russian threat to NATO? Dobrindt told reporters in Berlin that intelligence points to "people being involved who acted on behalf of Russian state entities," though he didn't specify which ones. "Taken together, the police investigations, the pattern and intelligence findings prove a Russian responsibility for the attempted attack at Leipzig airport." Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said that "with the attempted attack in Leipzig, the Russian leadership decided deliberately to do significant damage again to our already massively burdened bilateral relationship." He said that the Russian consulate in Bonn will be closed effective Sept. 18. The Russian House cultural centre in Berlin also will be closed, though that may take some time. Germany will propose the addition of more people from Russia to European Union sanctions lists "in the context of hybrid attacks," will step up entry controls for people from Russia and "increase pressure on the shadow fleet," a reference to tankers suspected of shipping Russian oil in violation of international sanctions, Wadephul said. The EU has sanctioned hundreds of "shadow fleet" ships. The Russian ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in Berlin. Wadephul later told ARD television that "Germany can at any time show a stronger reaction, [but] that is not necessary at this point." Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said there would be a "fitting response" to the planned closures, Russian state news agency Tass reported. She rejected claims of Russian involvement in the attempted drone attack, calling them a "far-fetched and contrived pretext" for Berlin to escalate tensions, and arguing that "as usual, no convincing or serious evidence has been presented whatsoever." Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed Berlin's allegations, instead claiming that Germany's leadership sought to use the incident to distract from their own failings and dissatisfaction among voters with "the need to counter an aggressive Russia." "But where is the proof? Well, the proof has been planted," Putin told reporters in the early hours of Wednesday in Kyrgyzstan, where he attended a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. He didn't elaborate on why he thinks the proof has been planted, nor did he offer evidence. Leipzig/Halle is a major hub for international freight and for providing support to Ukraine. The planes that regularly use it include Ukrainian Antonov transport aircraft. It is also home to NATO's Strategic Airlift International Solution, or SALIS, which is currently operational almost every day in delivering equipment to NATO battle groups along its eastern flank from Finland to Romania and supporting EU and alliance nation missions. In 2024, an incendiary device ignited at a logistics centre at the airport and set fire to a freight container before it could be loaded onto a cargo plane, part of a plot that Western security officials suspect was organized by Russian intelligence. The Associated Press has tracked around 200 incidents of sabotage and malign activity across Europe that Western officials have blamed on Russia since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. That includes organizing plots to set fire to warehouses, launching drones and trying to kill enemies abroad as well as stealing defence technology and carrying out cyberattacks on critical European infrastructure. In May, Putin responded to the AP findings and said Moscow is not waging a sabotage campaign against Europe. He demanded that AP "name one proven fact." Concerns grow over Russia’s incursions into NATO nations The EU has slapped almost two dozen packages of sanctions on Russia over its war in Ukraine, targeting roughly 3,000 people and entities. European allies rallied around Germany after Tuesday's announcement. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said in a post on X that he had spoken with Chancellor Friedrich Merz and that "NATO stands in full solidarity with Germany after the Russian hybrid attack in Leipzig." Prime Minister Mark Carney said inhis own post on Xthat he'd also spoken to Merz "to express Canada’s support for Germany, following Russia’s hybrid attack at Leipzig Airport." He also said that Canada's "support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s aggression is unshakeable." Russia is rattling NATO’s nerves, but how far will Moscow go? What the CIA director’s mystery trip to Moscow says about Putin's next move In mid-August, the German cabinet approved plans to give the country's intelligence services broader powers for actions such as disabling sabotage and hacking attempts. The planned reform, which had been in the works for months, still requires parliamentary approval. Hours before Tuesday's German statement, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who has frequently warned that Russia is carrying out a campaign of sabotage against NATO countries, said Poland has been targeted by new acts of sabotage including arson within the past "dozens of hours." He spoke the day after a fire broke out at WB Electronics, which the Polish government has described as Europe's biggest drone manufacturer. Prosecutors said Monday that they launched an investigation based on suspicions of the "participation of foreign intelligence activities against the Republic of Poland," without elaborating on what country might be responsible. They said the fire at the plant in Skarżysko-Kamienna destroyed warehouse facilities and caused damage estimated at at least $5.57 million Cdn. With files from CBC News

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Germany has accused Russia of being responsible for the drone attack targeting Leipzig airport last month, and announced a slew of new measures against Moscow. “We are not at war, but we are a daily target of hybrid attacks,” Germany’s interior minister Alexander Dobrindt told reporters on Tuesday, as he raised the country’s threat level assessment from “general” to “high”. Germany’s foreign minister Johann Wadephul also ordered the closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn, and the Russian House, a cultural center, in Berlin. Germany is also tightening controls Russians entering the country. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the EU’s executive arm, said European foreign ministers would announce a “clear response” to Russia including “additional sanctions” later this week. The US previously assessed that an explosive-laden drone discovered at the airport in east Germany belonged to a Russian intelligence service, a US defense official in Europe told CNN. The incident caused major disruptions and sparked security concerns across Europe. According to German authorities at the time, the drone was discovered inside a secure area of the Leipzig/Halle Airport overnight on August 4 near the airport’s south runway, where cargo flights operate. A bomb disposal robot was deployed and the detonator attached to the drone was removed. Images of the scene showed the robot close to a Ukrainian cargo plane. The US defense official told CNN the drone was carrying military-grade explosives. Later on August 5, a second flying object hit a cargo plane near the airport, causing minor damage. The aircraft later landed safely in Hannover. Russia said the suggestion it was responsible for the drone attack was absurd. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday night accused Germany of planting evidence in order to blame Moscow, without offering any evidence for such allegations, according to Reuters. Moscow’s ambassador to Germany, Sergey Nechayev, earlier accused Berlin of an “unprecedented escalation of Russian-German relations.” He described the accusations as “unsubstantiated, absurd, and irrational,” and warned of retaliatory measures. NATO chief Mark Rutte welcomed the measures announced by Germany, said the alliance’s commitment to Ukraine remained “unwavering,” and reiterated that “NATO will continue to strengthen our ability to deter and defend all Allies against any threat – including malign actions like those seen in Leipzig.” German media also recently reported that a third drone was found in a field near the airport about a week after incidents, prompting speculation that multiple drones were meant to be used in the attack. The German Federal Prosecutor’s Office, which is handling the case, declined to comment when contacted by CNN, citing an ongoing investigation. Leipzig/Halle, one of the busiest cargo airports in Europe, has been the base for Ukraine’s Antonov Airlines cargo airline since Russia destroyed its home base in the town of Hostomel, northwest of Kyiv, in the early days of their full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The explosives-laden drone was found near one of the Ukrainian aircraft at the airport. Dobrindt said at the time that the incident represented a serious escalation. “Drone sightings, drone threats including in a hybrid context, are something we know from the past. That a drone armed with explosives is at an airport is a new threat scenario,” he said. Hybrid warfare Western intelligence services have repeatedly pointed fingers at Russia over a series of seemingly unrelated security incidents across Europe. These have included arson, high-profile hacks, GPS jamming as well as sabotage actions against key infrastructure, including undersea communication cables, logistics centers and railways. The US has warned that Russia might escalate further. Recent US intelligence assessments indicate Russian President Vladimir Putin could try to test NATO’s resolve by launching a limited attack on an allied country within the next few years, according to three sources familiar with those reports. CNN contacted the Kremlin for comment on the US intel assessment on Putin. Power grid targeted In a separate incident on Tuesday, German authorities said part of the country’s electricity grid was sabotaged. Police discovered “several improvised explosive devices,” including some which resembled rockets, at a substation near one of Germany’s largest power plants, a police spokeswoman told CNN. The devices were attached to a powerline leading to the substation in Turnow-Preilack, near the border with Poland, rather than inside the facility itself, the spokeswoman added. Authorities don’t yet know who is behind the attack, but they cannot rule out a foreign power or left-wing activists, Brandenburg’s interior minister Jan Redmann told reporters Tuesday. The perpetrators used rockets to fire a “conducting material” into the high-voltage lines, causing two short circuits, Redmann said. Authorities are searching the area and have already found at least 10 rockets, though the number is still rising, he added. 50 Hertz, which operates the electricity grid in northern and eastern Germany, confirmed there had been a brief power outage but that all lines are now operating again. CNN’s Fred Pleitgen, Haley Britzky, Zachary Cohen, Issy Ronald, Jennifer Hansler and Lauren Said-Moorhouse contributed to this report.

Alemania acusó a Rusia de ser responsable del ataque con dron contra el aeropuerto de Leipzig el mes pasado y anunció una serie de nuevas medidas contra Moscú. “No estamos en guerra, pero somos blanco diario de ataques híbridos”, dijo a periodistas el ministro del Interior de Alemania, Alexander Dobrindt, al elevar la evaluación del nivel de amenaza del país de “general” a “alto”. El ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de Alemania, Johann Wadephul, también ordenó el cierre del consulado ruso en Bonn y de la Casa Rusa, un centro cultural, en Berlín. Alemania también endurecerá los controles para el ingreso de ciudadanos rusos al país. Ursula von der Leyen, presidenta del órgano ejecutivo de la Unión Europea, dijo que los ministros de Relaciones Exteriores europeos anunciarían una “respuesta clara” a Rusia, incluidas “sanciones adicionales”, más adelante esta semana. EE.UU. determinó previamente que un dron cargado de explosivos descubierto en el aeropuerto, en el este de Alemania, pertenecía a un servicio de inteligencia ruso, según dijo a CNN un funcionario de defensa de EE.UU. en Europa. El incidente causó graves interrupciones y generó preocupación por la seguridad en toda Europa. Según las autoridades alemanas en ese momento, el dron fue descubierto dentro de una zona segura del aeropuerto de Leipzig/Halle el 5 de agosto, cerca de la pista sur, donde operan vuelos de carga. Se desplegó un robot de desactivación de explosivos y se retiró el detonador conectado al dron. Imágenes del lugar mostraron al robot cerca de un avión de carga ucraniano. El funcionario de defensa de EE.UU. dijo a CNN que el dron transportaba explosivos de uso militar. Más tarde, el 5 de agosto, un segundo objeto volador impactó un avión de carga cerca del aeropuerto y causó daños menores. La aeronave aterrizó posteriormente sin incidentes en Hannover. Rusia afirmó que la insinuación de que era responsable del ataque con drones es absurda. El presidente ruso, Vladimir Putin, acusó el martes por la noche a Alemania de colocar pruebas para culpar a Moscú, sin aportar evidencia alguna que respaldara tales acusaciones, según Reuters. El embajador de Moscú en Alemania, Sergey Nechayev, había acusado anteriormente a Berlín de una “escalada sin precedentes de las relaciones ruso-alemanas”. Calificó las acusaciones de “infundadas, absurdas e irracionales” y advirtió sobre medidas de represalia. El secretario general de la OTAN, Mark Rutte, celebró las medidas anunciadas por Alemania, afirmó que el compromiso de la alianza con Ucrania seguía siendo “inquebrantable” y reiteró que “la OTAN continuará fortaleciendo nuestra capacidad para disuadir y defender a todos los aliados de cualquier amenaza, incluidas acciones maliciosas como las observadas en Leipzig”. Medios alemanes también informaron recientemente que un tercer dron fue encontrado en un campo cerca del aeropuerto aproximadamente una semana después de los incidentes, lo que generó especulaciones de que se pretendía utilizar varios drones en el ataque. La Fiscalía Federal alemana, que está a cargo del caso, se negó a hacer comentarios cuando CNN la contactó y citó una investigación en curso. Leipzig/Halle, uno de los aeropuertos de carga con mayor actividad de Europa, ha sido la base de operaciones de la aerolínea de carga ucraniana Antonov Airlines desde que Rusia destruyó su base original en la localidad de Hostomel, al noroeste de Kyiv, durante los primeros días de su invasión a gran escala de Ucrania en 2022. El dron cargado de explosivos fue encontrado cerca de una de las aeronaves ucranianas en el aeropuerto. Dobrindt dijo en ese momento que el incidente representaba una grave escalada. “Los avistamientos de drones y las amenazas con drones, incluso en un contexto híbrido, son algo que conocemos del pasado. Que haya un dron armado con explosivos en un aeropuerto constituye un nuevo escenario de amenaza”, afirmó. Guerra híbrida Los servicios de inteligencia occidentales han señalado repetidamente a Rusia por una serie de incidentes de seguridad aparentemente inconexos en toda Europa. Estos han incluido incendios provocados, ciberataques de gran repercusión, interferencias de GPS y acciones de sabotaje contra infraestructura clave, incluidos cables submarinos de comunicaciones, centros logísticos y vías ferroviarias. EE.UU. ha advertido que Rusia podría intensificar aún más sus acciones. Evaluaciones recientes de inteligencia de EE.UU. indican que el presidente de Rusia, Vladimir Putin, podría intentar poner a prueba la determinación de la OTAN mediante un ataque limitado contra un país aliado en los próximos años, según tres fuentes familiarizadas con esos informes. CNN contactó al Kremlin para solicitar comentarios sobre la evaluación de inteligencia de EE.UU. acerca de Putin, así como sobre la evaluación relacionada con el dron hallado en el aeropuerto de Leipzig/Halle. Red eléctrica atacada En otro incidente ocurrido este martes, las autoridades alemanas informaron que parte de la red eléctrica del país fue saboteada. La policía descubrió “varios artefactos explosivos improvisados”, entre ellos algunos que parecían cohetes, en una subestación cerca de una de las mayores centrales eléctricas de Alemania, dijo a CNN una portavoz policial. Los artefactos estaban sujetos a una línea eléctrica que conduce a la subestación de Turnow-Preilack, cerca de la frontera con Polonia, y no dentro de las propias instalaciones, añadió la portavoz. Las autoridades aún no saben quién está detrás del ataque, pero no pueden descartar que se trate de una potencia extranjera o de activistas de izquierda, indicó el martes a la prensa el ministro del Interior de Brandeburgo, Jan Redmann. Los autores utilizaron cohetes para lanzar un “material conductor” contra las líneas de alta tensión, lo que causó dos cortocircuitos, dijo Redmann. Las autoridades están registrando la zona y han encontrado al menos 10 cohetes, aunque la cifra sigue en aumento, añadió. 50 Hertz, que opera la red eléctrica en el norte y el este de Alemania, confirmó que hubo un breve corte de electricidad, pero que todas las líneas ya volvieron a estar en funcionamiento. Con información de Fred Pleitgen, Haley Britzky, Zachary Cohen, Issy Ronald, Jennifer Hansler y Lauren Said-Moorhouse, de CNN.

For the first time, the government declares loudly and clearly that Russia is responsible for the drone attack conducted against Germany at the Leipzig airport. It is clever and, at the very least, brave, says Die Zeit. After weeks of speculation about this incident, which cast a shadow of the Kremlin, Berlin finally announced on Tuesday, September 1, retaliatory measures against the Russian authorities. Germany will in particular close the last Russian consulate on its soil, in Bonn, and the Russian cultural center in Berlin, also called the “Russian House.” It will also propose to add new people of Russian nationality to the European sanctions lists. German Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul, furthermore promised to “increase pressure on the ghost fleet of Russia,” that collection of aging ships with opaque legal status that Russia uses to circumvent Western sanctions. In a statement published on Telegram, the Russian ambassador to Germany, Sergei Netchayev, reacted by calling Berlin’s “accusations” “unfounded, absurd, and contrary to common sense,” adding that the sanctions constituted “an unprecedented escalation in the Russia-Germany relations and would not be without consequences.” “This is another crude mistake. And, in my view, it will clearly run counter to the interests of the German people,” echoed Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday evening, while in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. “An increasingly confrontational position.” By openly challenging Moscow, the German government—which on Tuesday had the support of Paris, London, and Warsaw—adopts “an increasingly confrontational position toward the Kremlin,” notes the Süddeutsche Zeitung. Germany’s statement “goes far beyond a simple official stance on the progress of the investigation. It is a political and diplomatic stance, a new element in the repertoire of German foreign policy,” asserts Die Zeit. “It symbolizes both awareness and commitment. It is one more important step toward adapting to the harsh security reality of recent years” with respect to the Russian threat, analyzes the German weekly. For Die Zeit, “the more the attacks [by Russia] militarize, the less acceptable tactical inaction becomes. Germany must show that such attacks do not frighten it but, on the contrary, strengthen its determination.” For the German newspaper, that is what it chose to do on Tuesday. “The announced countermeasures—closing the last consulate in Bonn and the Russian House in Berlin, and perhaps new sanctions—may seem timid at first glance, but this is a prudent decision,” notes Die Zeit. “Russia seems determined to continue the escalation. Germany must therefore maintain room to maneuver to respond.” Perhaps this also explains the very notable absence of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz from the Tuesday press conference organized by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, observes Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. “This absence is partly explained by Berlin’s desire to reserve other options to react more firmly to potential new escalations by Russia. The federal government indeed fears that new Russian attacks are to be expected,” explains the daily. “The chancellor reserves the right to act at the next step,” also says the weekly Stern. Tensions at the G20 summit. “In such a context, it is especially regrettable that the Trump administration invited the Russian finance minister to the G20 summit taking place this week in North Carolina,” notes The Wall Street Journal in an editorial across the Atlantic. “The German Finance Minister was rightfully furious to see Russia welcomed into such a forum for the first time since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022,” reports the editorial board of the conservative newspaper. Despite the emotion aroused among Europeans by Anton Siluanov’s presence, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said his attendance had “not had any impact” on discussions. “I know some Europeans have been left with a bitter taste, but I think it is very important to talk with everyone to put an end to this horrible conflict between Russia and Ukraine,” he added, while at least 12 people were killed Tuesday in Kyiv and its region in new nighttime mass strikes by Russia. “Mr. Putin will obtain a form of international legitimacy from this visit, while continuing his bombardments that terrorize civilians in Kyiv,” laments The Wall Street Journal, while praising Germany’s decision to point the finger at Moscow’s responsibility for the Leipzig attack. “For too long, Europe did not want to take the risk of speaking frankly about this threat [Russia], which makes the firmness of Germany’s statements this week all the more appreciated.” The Russia without an ambassador to the United Kingdom, a message sent to London? For the start of the school year in Russia, the school becomes a factory of good patriots. Striking Russia hard, Zelensky’s double-edged bet. Suspected flying devices discovered in a strategic airport for NATO.

VIENNA — Russia was behind the failed explosive drone attack on Germany’s key Leipzig/Halle Airport last month, the authorities in Berlin announced on Tuesday, alongside measures designed to punish Moscow for its actions. A nearly monthlong investigation identified telltale signs of a Russian hybrid warfare action, German investigators had found. An explosive-laden drone fell near a Ukrainian cargo airplane used to shuttle munitions to the country at war in early August. It failed to detonate and was instead defused by a police bomb squad. German media later reported that two similar drones were found at or near the airport in the following days and weeks. The airport at Leipzig/Halle plays a key logistical role in the supply of Ukraine and for NATO airlift operations. “Taken together, police investigations, patterns of the act, and intelligence findings demonstrate Russian responsibility for the attempted attack at Leipzig Airport,” said German interior minister Alexander Dobrindt. “The Federal Government therefore concludes that Russia is responsible for the hybrid attack in Leipzig on August 4.” In response, Germany will be closing Russia’s consulate general in Bonn, a 70,000 square meter complex that hosted Soviet intelligence rezidenturas during the Cold War, by Sept. 18. Berlin will also terminate the leases for the Russian House for Science and Culture in Berlin. In addition, German authorities will be implementing heightened scrutiny during immigration of Russian citizens and push for further visa restrictions for Russian people, particularly those tied to hybrid operations. The German announcement was made jointly by the country’s ministers for interior and foreign affairs. Russian President Vladimir Putin called the decisions a “grave mistake,” and accused the German government of falsifying evidence to distract from domestic political woes and Chancellor Merz’s poor popularity ratings. Russia’s ambassador to Berlin, who had previously been summoned by the foreign ministry, said the “hastily concocted provocation at Leipzig airport” was the basis of “absurd” allegations. The Russian foreign ministry has said it would “mirror” Germany’s actions, which is longstanding Russian policy. In the past, Russia has frequently responded to the expulsion of diplomats from a Western country by expelling a similar number of that country’s diplomats from Moscow. This often worked out in Russia’s favor, given Moscow’s numerical advantage in its diplomatic corps. The European Union and NATO issued separate statements of support for and solidarity with Germany. Both organizations have scheduled high-level talks on the topic for Wednesday. Linus Höller is Defense News' Europe correspondent and OSINT investigator. He reports on the arms deals, sanctions, and geopolitics shaping Europe and the world. He holds master’s degrees in WMD nonproliferation, terrorism studies, and international relations, and works in four languages: English, German, Russian, and Spanish.

Enlaces de interés Secciones Servicios Newsletters Sectores es Lavrov acusa a Alemania de usar el incidente con un dron en Leipzig para iniciar “una guerra real” y advierte de un resurgir de “metástasis del nazismo”. 2 minutos Publicado El ministro de Exteriores ruso, Sergei Lavrov, ha asegurado este domingo que las imputaciones dirigidas contra Moscú por el incidente ocurrido en el aeropuerto alemán de Leipzig representan “en general, el inicio de una guerra real”, y ha añadido que, “en esencia”, el canciller alemán, Friedrich Merz, “declaró la guerra” a Rusia. Lavrov ha explicado en una entrevista a la agencia de noticias Vesti que “en Leipzig, en el aeropuerto, encontraron un dron. Dijeron que era un dron ruso, pero nadie se molestó en investigar”. A continuación ha reiterado que “esto es, en gran medida, el inicio de una guerra real”. En este contexto, ha vuelto a cargar contra la decisión de Alemania de expulsar al cónsul ruso destinado en Bonn y clausurar la Casa Rusa en Berlín. A este respecto, ha señalado que “recuerdo que antes del inicio de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, los alemanes cerraron sus misiones diplomáticas”. El máximo responsable de la diplomacia rusa ha subrayado igualmente que “las declaraciones de Merz sobre convertir a Alemania en la principal potencia militar en Europa están siendo puestas en práctica” y ha insistido en que “en esencia, nos está declarando la guerra. Las lecciones de la historia no han sido aprendidas”. Según Lavrov, “resulta que estas metástasis del nazismo están empezando a abrirse paso. Se trata de un fenómeno peligroso”, tal y como ha recogido la agencia rusa Interfax, antes de concluir que “creo que los líderes rusos sacarán las conclusiones pertinentes”. Por su parte, Alemania aseguró esta semana que las pesquisas realizadas por las autoridades tras lo sucedido en Leipzig muestran que el patrón del ataque, así como los componentes de los aparatos y la tecnología empleada para su detonación, coincide de forma concluyente con los métodos utilizados por Moscú en la guerra de Ucrania. Como reacción, el Gobierno ruso reclamó a Berlín que presente “pruebas” que acrediten su participación en el incidente, una postura respaldada también por el presidente ruso, Vladimir Putin, quien llegó a sugerir que las autoridades alemanas podrían estar actuando movidas por intereses electorales. El aeropuerto de Leipzig está considerado un punto clave para el tránsito de armamento, también vinculado al conflicto en Ucrania. Desde que comenzó la invasión rusa, en Alemania se han incrementado los avistamientos y tareas de reconocimiento con drones sobre infraestructuras críticas y objetivos militares. Etiquetas: Síguenos © 2026 DEMÓCRATA - Medio de información parlamentaria

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen vowed on Wednesday to increase pressure on Russia, including with new sanctions, after an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany that she said showed Moscow's growing "recklessness". Airport workers last month found a drone laden with explosives and a detonator at the airport, an important civilian freight and NATO logistics hub in eastern Germany that is also a base for several giant Ukrainian Antonov An-124 cargo planes. Germany blamed Moscow for the attack, characterising it as part of hybrid warfare meant to intimidate and cause divisions in countries that have rallied around Ukraine since Russia's 2022 invasion. Russia denies involvement. It says it will respond to what its foreign ministry spokesperson called "anti-Russian action", and summoned Germany's top diplomat in Moscow. "Europe and NATO will not just maintain our pressure on Russia; we will increase it, and we will not stop - not until Russia stops bombing and killing innocent children, men and women in Ukraine," von der Leyen said in Brussels after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. "Europeans are faced with the hard truth that this is the new normal. We have to step up, and that means being ready to respond to Russia's recklessness faster and better." The full scope of new sanctions was not immediately clear. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc was working on sanctions related to Russia's military complex, and France's foreign minister called for action against Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" of ships accused of circumventing energy sanctions. Rutte said more drones and missiles had crossed into NATO airspace on Europe's eastern flank, and there was an increase in malign activities including the Leipzig attack. "If Russia thinks we will be divided by the threat, or if they think we will be deterred from supporting Ukraine, they are mistaken," he said. The EU and several EU member states summoned Russian embassy officials. Germany said it would close Russia's consulate general in Bonn and terminate its agreement with the Russian House cultural centre in Berlin. TWO SUSPECTS IDENTIFIED, MEDIA OUTLETS SAY Details of two Leipzig attack suspects were reported by German media outlets Sueddeutsche Zeitung, NDR and WDR. Investigators have identified the logistics coordinator and instructor behind the attack, the outlets reported. The man, Russian-born but holding a Latvian passport, was believed to have ties to Russian intelligence, they said. He is thought to have flown into Berlin in late July and driven a rental car towards Leipzig. Two days before the failed drone attack, the suspect left Germany by plane, they reported. The second suspect was a man from Belarus who also holds a Russian passport and is thought to have entered the country on an Italian tourist visa obtained in Minsk, the outlets said. Germany's Public Prosecutor General did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Russia also did not immediately comment further on the case. GERMANY PROBES SABOTAGE CASES As the EU prepared its response, Germany was grappling with two new suspected sabotage cases within 24 hours. In the first, authorities were investigating vandalism at a substation in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) that prompted lignite power plant units with 4,200 megawatts (MW) in combined capacity to go off the grid. In the other, also on Tuesday, devices carrying conductive material damaged power lines at one of the most critical high-voltage nodes in the eastern state of Brandenburg. NRW's interior minister said the work of foreign powers or left-wing extremists could not be ruled out. Brandenburg's interior minister, Jan Redmann, said there appeared to be parallels between the attacks but that investigations were at an early stage. The incidents come at a sensitive time as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which calls for closer ties to Moscow, is topping polls before a state election this weekend. Lawmaker Alexander Throm, an interior policy expert from Germany's ruling conservatives, said it was striking that such incidents were occurring before elections. "The clear goal is to unsettle the public. Of course, that is a goal shared not only by Russia but also by others, such as left-wing extremists," Throm told Reuters. (Additional reporting by Bart H. Meijer, Padraic Halpin, Conor Humphries, John Irish, Dominique Vidalon, Charlotte Van Campenhout, Lili Bayer, Christoph Steitz, Matthias Inverardi and Miranda Murray; Writing by Matthias Williams; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Timothy Heritage) (This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) {{#source}}{{source}} {{/source}}{{#isBlog}} {{disclaimer}} {{/disclaimer}}

The European Union's response has been unequivocal: “Hybrid attacks will not go unanswered,” wrote on the social network X the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. She has been joined by the Secretary General of the Atlantic Alliance, Mark Rutte: “NATO will continue to reinforce our ability to deter and defend the Allies against any threat, including those observed in Leipzig.” Both leaders will meet this Wednesday in Brussels to discuss how to support the German government, which on Tuesday formally accused Russia of being behind the drone attacks at Leipzig airport. From the start they have made it clear that they fully credit Berlin. “The evidence is clear,” said Rutte. Foreign ministers from the EU’s 27 member states, who were already meeting in Wicklow, Ireland, as part of an ordinary pre-scheduled meeting, have also begun work. The aim, Von der Leyen said, is to show unity in the face of “Russian aggression.” Once again, sanctions appear as the main weapon the European Union can wield. But the room for maneuver is narrowing as punitive measures become more specific and affect national interests of the different member states to a greater extent. In fact, it was extremely difficult to push through the 21st sanctions package. It came at the cost of numerous concessions after Greece staunchly defended its shipping sector and Austria its Raiffeisen bank. The difficulty of imposing new sanctions Ministers already have on the table a list of potential Russian individuals and companies that could be added to the sanctions list. There are currently more than 3,000 people and entities affected by asset freezes or trade restrictions. And it is increasingly difficult to find names that cannot be challenged by the judiciary or simply vetoed by a country, as happened with Bulgaria, which prevented the inclusion of the Russian Patriarch Kirill. The other major outstanding issue is the use of frozen assets of Russian state banks, but Belgium resists because the vast majority are kept immobilized in this country. It knows that at the end of the war Russia could challenge this confiscation in an arbitral tribunal. If the measure were deemed illegal, Belgium could face a multimillion-dollar lawsuit. And another important aspect is the entity hosting the money, Euroclear, which fears losing credibility and that other countries stop entrusting their assets to it. The European Union therefore faces the paradox that sanctioning more does not necessarily mean sanctioning better. And the risk is that sanctions weigh more on the European economy than on the Russian economy. As former Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo once summarized: “We are not at war with ourselves.” NATO’s response The meeting to be held this Wednesday by von der Leyen and Rutte aims to improve coordination against hybrid threats. The idea would be to move from the current information exchange to a joint response mechanism. NATO and the EU know they need to work together now that the United States has made clear that it wants European allies to take on more responsibilities, as well as a more significant role in the war in Ukraine. Among the ideas that might be debated are the joint protection of critical infrastructure, such as submarine cables or airports, and, above all, how to coordinate their projects to detect and prevent drone incursions. Over the past year, the EU and its member states have faced a growing number of hybrid threats attributed to Russia. The Baltic states have warned of incidents against their underwater infrastructure. Several Eastern European countries have reported interference with their air-traffic control systems. And numerous drones have entered European airspace during Russia’s attacks on Ukraine. But the level of threat has risen in Germany, where on August 4 a pair of drones were detected at Leipzig airport. One was found near a Ukrainian cargo aircraft, while the other forced a DHL aircraft to abort landing. Ten days later, a third drone was found in a field immediately west of the airport. The problem with hybrid threats is that it’s hard to respond without triggering an escalation. In Brussels and also in the Atlantic Alliance there are many who believe Moscow’s aim is to test the unity of the Allies. Hence no one wants to invoke Article 5 of the NATO Treaty, under which an armed attack against a member state is considered an attack against all allies. The idea is to stay firm and united in condemnation, without falling into provocation.

The dispute between Berlin and Moscow is escalating. Russia has summoned the chargé d’affaires of the German embassy and accuses Germany of 'Russia-hostile' statements. At the same time, the EU is preparing new sanctions. Click here to have Welt articles preferentially displayed in Google search. Moscow has summoned the German chargé d’affaires in response to 'Russia-hostile' statements. The German Foreign Ministry confirmed the summons. The exact nature of the statements was not further explained. The diplomat Bernd Finke was summoned on Wednesday 'after the anti-Russian actions and statements by the German authorities,' the Russian Foreign Ministry explained in the Telegram online service. Following the Leipzig/Halle airport drone attack attempt, Russia must expect a comprehensive new sanctions package from the European Union—and it is hardening its tone toward Berlin. EU foreign affairs chief Borrell said during discussions of the foreign ministers in Ireland that preparations were already underway to impose sanctions on 1600 more people and companies connected to Russia's military-industrial complex. Others may be added. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on the sidelines of a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that if the Leipzig attack had been successful, it would have caused enormous damage and possibly cost lives. This will not be tolerated. If the aim was to pressure the EU to rethink its support for Ukraine, she could only say that intimidation will not work, von der Leyen said. According to German investigators, the attack targeted a Ukrainian cargo aircraft of the Antonov AN-124 Condor type. The government in Berlin counted it as clearly Russia after weeks of intensive investigations and announced punitive actions. Accusations from Moscow. Since then, tensions between Berlin and Moscow have clearly intensified. Russian President Vladimir Putin called the measures announced by Berlin a 'serious mistake' and spoke of falsified evidence. The Moscow Foreign Ministry announced countermeasures. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul informed his European colleagues at the EU meeting in County Wicklow about the findings concerning the drone incident. The CDU politician sharply rejected Putin's accusations that Germany had falsified evidence in connection with the punishment catalog against Moscow for electoral reasons. 'The opposite is true,' Wadephul told reporters. 'If one had thought politically about it, one might have avoided it, because it naturally leads to many discussions, especially in the eastern German election campaigns.' Among EU colleagues, he said, he had received a great deal of support for the measures. As in Germany, Russian ambassadors would be summoned in many other countries as well. Among others, France, the Netherlands, and Finland summoned Russian representatives in their countries. The government had on Tuesday announced a whole bundle of retaliatory measures against Russia. These include the closure of the Russian House in Berlin—the cultural institute is suspected of serving as a cover for espionage purposes—and the consulate general in Bonn, as well as the expulsion of numerous diplomats. There should also be stricter entry checks for Russians and tougher action against the Russian shadow fleet. Rutte: Increase in hostile activities registered. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Russia is behaving increasingly ruthlessly as it continues its horrific war against Ukraine. One sees more drones and missiles penetrating NATO airspace along the eastern flank, increasing the risks. He also noted an increase in hostile activities directed at the alliance's territory. 'The dangers from Russia are clear,' he said. The alliance is working around the clock to ensure readiness and to protect the population. Like von der Leyen, he also warned the Moscow government not to harbor any illusions: 'If Russia thinks it can split us with these threats, or think it can deter us from supporting Ukraine, it is mistaken.'

New lead in the Leipzig drone attack case that failed: One of the alleged perpetrators is said to have lived in Russia for years. Latvian security authorities are assisting the German investigators. Click here to have Welt articles shown preferentially in Google search. Following media reports about two suspects in the attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport, security authorities in Latvia have spoken. According to information available, a Latvian citizen, who is suspected in this context of having had his permanent residence in Russia for several years, stated the State Police in Riga to the news agency LETA. The agency also confirmed that it is cooperating with the German investigators and providing support. Several German media had reported on Wednesday that investigators have two suspects in their sights. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office has not commented on this to date. According to information from NDR, WDR and Süddeutsche Zeitung, one of the two is said to possess both a Latvian and a Russian passport. In the night of August 5, a drone with professional explosive material and a fuse was found on the airport premises in Leipzig. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office is investigating on suspicion of attempted triggering of an explosion. The German government has held Russia responsible for the attack. Moscow denies this.

Sergei Lavrov firmly rejects the German government’s accusations regarding the drone attack at Leipzig airport. Chancellor Friedrich Merz declares that Russia is essentially at war. Click here to have Welt articles preferentially displayed in Google search. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has further sharpened the tone in the confrontation with the West. The accusations against Moscow that Russia is responsible for the drone attack on Leipzig airport are, in his words, largely the beginning of a real war, Lavrov said on Sunday, according to the state news agency Tass. "All these statements by (Chancellor Friedrich) Merz, to make Germany once again the leading military power in Europe – they will now be put into practice. He is effectively declaring war on us." The German government had on September 1 attributed the attempted drone attack on Leipzig/Halle Airport on August 4 to Russia after investigations. At the time, among other things, a drone filled with explosive was found beside a Ukrainian freight aircraft. In response, the German government ordered, among other things, the closure of the last remaining Russian general consulate in Germany and a Russian cultural center in Berlin. Chancellor Merz (CDU) emphasized on Saturday regarding Russian responsibility: "The attribution is very clear, indisputable, even legally verifiable." The government had taken four weeks to review. The Russian government rejected the German accusations as groundless and accused Berlin of faking evidence. They have now taken the right consequences with "a very clear warning to Russia," Merz said at an event in Hannover-Langenhagen. "Anyone who attacks us must know: we are determined to defend our rule of law, our democracy, our open society, and the integrity of our territory." The German government and other Western states have long accused Russia of waging a hybrid war against them. Elements include disinformation campaigns, attacks, and even murders carried out on Russian orders. Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Since then, Germany and other European states have supported Ukraine in its defense.

The European Unions's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Wednesday that she summoned Russia's envoy in Brussels over the alleged attempted hybrid attack involving an explosives-laden drone at Leipzig/Halle Airport last month. Germany's foreign and interior ministers said in a joint press conference on Tuesday that the government in Berlin had concluded that Russia was responsible for the failed attack, reinforcing suspicions that arose as soon as the news broke in August. Kallas says incident has 'all the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism' "We are discussing the Leipzig attacks, and also it is clear that it has all the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism," Kallas said ahead of an informal gathering of EU foreign ministers in Ireland. "The question is, what do we do about this? We have already summoned the Russian ambassador," she said. The former Estonian prime minister also said that the EU was continuing its work on its next package of some 1,600 sanctions listings related to Russia's war in Ukraine and said "maybe there is more to be added." France takes similar step, summoning charge d'affaires French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot also told reporters in Dublin that Paris was summoning a Russian ambassador in response. "I have summoned the Russian charge d'affaires in Paris to protest," Barrot said, adding that sanctions should be taken at a European level, notably against Russia's so-called shadow fleet of ships. Non-EU foreign ministers from Ukraine, the UK, Canada, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland also traveled to Ireland to attend Wednesday's informal talks. Germany's Wadephul says 'pressure on Russia is being stepped up' German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told reporters that the EU would continue to work on additional sanctions "in the coming weeks." "Pressure on Russia is being stepped up and support for Ukraine also remains at a high level. That is the unity we are demonstrating at this time," he said. The Christian Democrat politician said that Russia had chosen to escalate, and "must now live with these consequences." He also defended Tuesday's announcement in Berlin, calling the government's response a "necessary and proportionate" one based on a "well-founded opinion and verdict." What did Germany say about its investigations? Wadephul and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced in a joint press conference on Tuesday that the federal government in Berlin held Russia responsible for the failed attack. "Taken together, police investigations, patterns of the crime and intelligence findings substantiate Russian responsibility for the attempted attack at Leipzig Airport," Dobrindt said on Tuesday, without going into specifics. Wadephul said that the "means used — drone configuration, components, explosives and detonation systems — are known to us from other hybrid operations by Russia and its war against Ukraine." Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have rejected the allegations and accused Germany of fabricating its version of events. Leipzig/Halle Airport is a key freight hub. Ukrainian airline and aircraft manufacturer Antonov uses the airport as a base of operations, frequently transiting material to Ukraine via the the eastern German city. Edited by: Zac Crellin If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your Preferred Source on Google, so you'll always see our verified news first.

What you need to know - Police say they have found explosive devices near a power plant in Brandenburg - Germany's Foreign Minister Wadephul in Algeria for talks on renewable energy and gas - Wadephul stressed the need to "diversify" energy sources, describing Algeria as a "reliable partner" - The top diplomat also vowed a measured response to an attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport last month - IG Metall union chief says Volkswagen is making a "big mistake" by mulling further job cuts and plant closures This blog is now closed. Welcome to our roundup of news and analysis from and concerning Germany on Tuesday, September 1. Tired of missing our real time updates? Click here to add DW as a Preferred Source on Google. Thank you for reading Thank you for reading Tuesday's Germany news blog. We'll have more news in a fresh blog on Wednesday. Tschüss! Germany to force closure of 'Russian House' in Berlin While Russia says it's a cultural center dating back to the days of the Soviet Union, critics have long said it is a hub for propaganda and espionage. Now, Germany says it will terminate of the lease for the so-called Russian House in the heart of Berlin. The termination comes in response to the alleged Russian involvement in a drone attack attempt at Leipzig/Halle Airport. Germany faces shortage of 1.4 million homes Germany is facing a serious housing crisis with around 1.4 million homes missing across the country and with rents continuing to rise. Around 52% of Germany’s population lives in rented accommodation. According the annual report by the German Tenants' Association, 29% of renters are worried that they may soon no longer be able to afford their rent. Almost 60% of renters say that their housing costs are already too high or have increased significantly over the past year. Just over 50% say that the steep rents are forcing them to put less money aside for their retirement. One in four is spending less money on healthy food. In response to the dire statistics, the tenants' association calls for the government to limit rent levels and build more social housing. Germany says Russia to blame for attempted Leipzig drone attack Germany on Tuesday said Russia was "responsible" for an attempted drone attack at the Leipzig/Halle Airport on August 4 when authorities discovered a drone fitted with explosives in the security area of the airport between Ukrainian cargo aircraft. Interior Minister Dobrindt said the government concluded "that Russia is responsible for the hybrid attack in Leipzig" and that the attack fit the pattern of a "long series of destabilization operations" against Europe. Dobrindt insisted that Germany was "not at war" but that it was "a daily target of hybrid warfare." He added that Germany would respond in a "proportionate and measured, yet resolute manner." Foreign Minister Wadephul said the response would be coordinated closely with the European Union and NATO. He also said Berlin would continue to support Kyiv in its "defensive battle against Russian aggression." Officials: 'attempted attack' on power grid outside of Berlin German authorities have released more details about a suspected attack on an electric power station in the eastern German state of Brandenburg. Police found several homemade explosive devices near the electrical substation in Turnow-Preilack, southeast of Berlin. Local network operator 50Hertz described the devices as small rockets resembling New Year’s Eve fireworks. Some of the devices had been launched while others were found unexploded, the operator said. There was a brief power cut, but all power lines are back in operation The Turnow-Preilack substation is where the electricity from the Jänschwalde power plant is distributed across the region. Brandenburg State Premier Dietmar Woidke called it an "attempted attack" and condemned the act. "The worryingly high frequency of such incidents shows that we must decisively protect our infrastructure," he said. The suspected sabotage follows a series of recent strikes on the power grid around Berlin. In January, an arson attack by suspected far-left extremists on power lines in left 45,000 households in the German capital without electricity for days. In March 2024, another group targeted an electricity pylon, cutting power to a Tesla factory outside of Berlin. Germany's Antonio Rüdiger retires from international football German central defender Antonio Rüdiger has announced his retirement from international football, saying he wanted to "clear the path for the younger generation" after the 2026 World Cup exit. "When I first wore the German jersey in 2014, even in my dreams I couldn't have pictured going on to play 86 national team games," Rüdiger said in a post on Instagram. "Even though the big prizes eluded us in recent competitions and we had to stomach some painful defeats, this was still an extremely special chapter for me that will have a lasting impact," Rüdiger said. The 33-year-old Real Madrid defender, who rose the ranks with Stuttgart and also had spells with Roma and Chelsea, was extremely unfortunate with the timing of his Germany career. He made his debut in May 2014 in the preparations for what would become Germany's fourth World Cup win, but narrowly missed the cut for the tournament proper that summer. Over the next 12 years he established himself as a regular in the squad and then in the starting 11. But this coincided with a dry spell where the German team only won the 2017 Confederations Cup and endured three consecutive early World Cup exits — twice in the group stages and most recently in the first knockout round against Paraguay this summer. Berlin Pride memorial bench destroyed A bench meant to commemorate the deadly Berlin Pride attack has been destroyed, authorities said. The rainbow bench at the site of the July 25 attack has been vandalized "with considerable physical force," local police said. Berlin's queer commissioner, Alfonso Pantisano, said he was shocked after seeing photos of the damage. The original attack occurred when a 21-year-old Islamist extremist drove a van into a crowd at the Berlin Pride event and then attacked people with a machete. One woman from Poland was killed, and 31 others were injured, some seriously, before police fatally shot the attacker the following day. The bench was placed next to a newly planted tree that replaced one destroyed during the attack. Local authorities have said it will be rebuilt and have filed a criminal complaint against unknown perpetrators. Prosecutors charge 2 suspected members of German right-wing terror group The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office has brought charges against two suspected members of the violent far-right Last Wave of Defence group for planning to set fire to an asylum seekers' facility. The pair are accused of traveling to the accommodation center in Schmölln in central Germany in January 2025 with the intention of setting it on fire. They allegedly smashed windows but failed to set the building alight. The two suspects, aged 16 and 17 at the time of the incident, were arrested at the end of June. They have been charged with aiding and abetting attempted murder, attempted arson resulting in death, and attempted aggravated arson. The Thuringia Higher Regional Court in Jena must now decide whether they will stand trial. According to the prosecutor's office, one of the two is currently being held in pre-trial detention. Last month, a court in Hamburg sentenced seven young members of the terror group to prison terms ranging from one and a half to five years. Merz: No coalition, but some kind of interplay with Left Party possible in Saxony-Anhalt Chancellor Friedrich Merz has expanded on how he hopes a CDU-led coalition — presumably without a clear majority — could still govern in Saxony-Anhalt after Sunday's elections. Polls suggest the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) will be by far the largest party, with the CDU a distant second, and the socialist Left Party (die Linke) next in line. Given that the CDU refuses to join a coalition or formally "work together" with either the AfD on the right or the Left Party, this could make establishing a functioning government extremely challenging. "With both the AfD and the Left there are such fundamental differences to the [Christian Democratic] Union, that direct cooperation is out of the question," Merz told the local Mitteldeutsche Zeitung and Magdeburger Volksstimme newspapers on Tuesday. But Merz said that some kind of CDU-led minority government operating with support from individuals in the Left Party on a policy-by-policy basis had proven viable in other states. "We see how it's possible to govern in Thuringia and Saxony," he said of two other eastern states where the AfD is either the strongest single party, or a close and influential second. "But it needs to be clear that there are limits," Merz added, saying he felt these limits lay in holding Cabinet positions and formulating government policy. Can this also work in Saxony-Anhalt? Numerically, the parliamentary arithmetic could be more problematic in Saxony-Anhalt than any other state to date, at least based on the opinion polls prior to Sunday's vote. In Thuringia the CDU-led government only needs to convince one opposition politician of a policy to command a majority. In Saxony, that figure rises to 10 but there are more oppositon parties to try to woo. Depending on Sunday's results, it's conceivable that a CDU-led minority government without the AfD or the Left Party could command fewer than 40% of the seats, or fewer still if the Greens fail to clear the 5% hurdle and enter parliament. And it would likely only have one party, the Left, to try to win over, assuming it planned to continue to exclude the AfD. Prior to the vote, the Left in Saxony-Anhalt have said their condition would be having a more direct say on policy plans. How both sides might define this, and what compromises they might be willing to entertain once the results are in on Sunday night, remains unclear for now. Explosive devices discovered at substation in eastern Germany Police have found several explosive devices near the Jänschwalde power station in the eastern German state of Brandenburg, according to media reports on Tuesday. The devices were discovered at an electrical substation in Turnow-Preilack, southeast of Berlin, after potential damage to a power line was detected at around 8 a.m. on Tuesday, police said. "Evidence is being secured," a police spokeswoman said. "Bomb disposal experts are on site." Police added that there was no immediate danger to the public and that no one was hurt. The Brandenburg state criminal police office has taken over the investigation of the incident. Grid operator 50Hertz said "as yet unidentified perpetrators are believed to have caused damage to several power lines" in the transmission grid. It added that there was a brief power cut but all power lines were back in operation and the general electricity supply was never affected. Further details were not immediately available. The apparent attempted attack comes after several incidents targeting power supply in the greater Berlin area. In January, suspected far-left extremists set fire to high-voltage power lines near a power station in southwest Berlin, causing power cuts to 45,000 homes. In March 2024, a group set fire to a large electricity pylon needed to supply the Tesla factory in Grünheide near Berlin. That caused a halt in production for several days. German part-time jobs reach record high The share of part-time workers in Germany reached a new high of 40.3% in the second quarter, according to analysis by the Institute for Employment Research (IAB). The number of part-time workers increased 0.5% compared to the same period last year, to 16.936 million. At the same time, the number of full-time workers fell by 0.9% to 25.138 million. The IAB named two reasons for the trend. It said there had been employment growth in sectors with a high proportion of part-time work, such as health care and teaching. It also cited job cuts in sectors dominated by full-time work, such as manufacturing. "The economy has recently stabilized, so the working hours of employees are rising slightly again," said the IAB's Enzo Weber. "But the crisis-hit manufacturing sector is losing many full-time jobs, meaning that overall fewer hours were worked." The average weekly working hours for full-time employees remained constant at 38.32 hours in the second quarter. For part-time workers, it rose slightly to 18.88 hours. Germany to officially blame Russia for attempted drone attack: media reports The German government reportedly believes a Russian intelligence service was behind an attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport last month. Various German media reports citing unnamed sources said Berlin would announce the details of its investigation into the incident, including the finding that Moscow was responsible, later on Tuesday. The government has not commented on the reports, but Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt are scheduled to give a press conference on the matter in the German capital later this afternoon. Following the discovery of an explosives-laden drone near a Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig airport on August 4, Berlin referred to a "hybrid attack" and said only that "foreign powers" could be involved. Some lawmakers pointed the finger at Russia, but the government stopped short of identifying a culprit. Media outlets also reported on Tuesday that the German government was preparing countermeasures against Moscow as part of its response. According to Spiegel, those measures could include the expulsion of Russian diplomats and the closure of Russia's consulate in Bonn. German union slams Volkswagen CEO over potential plant closures The head of the IG Metall union has warned Volkswagen's management it is making a "big mistake" by considering further layoffs and possible plant closures. Volkswagen is already planning to cut 50,000 jobs by 2030, but the management has said more savings are needed, with the future of several factories uncertain. In comments published in the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper on Tuesday, union chief Christiane Benner said she would oppose any closure of the carmaker's plants in Emden, Zwickau, Hanover or Audi's Neckarsulm site at an upcoming supervisory board meeting on the cost-cutting plans. "It is a big mistake by Volkswagen management to put the plants in Emden, Zwickau, Hanover and Neckarsulm at risk of closure, seek to cut another 50,000 jobs and at the same time announce that the operating margin must rise from 3.8% most recently to 8%-10% by 2030," Benner said. She added that the company was required to honor commitments made to workers under an agreement reached in 2024. Around 30,000 jobs depend on the Emden plant in northern Germany, Benner said, while the Zwickau site is particularly important for eastern Germany. She argued there was "plenty of time to develop prospects for both sites" and said announcements about further potential cost-cutting measures had only created confusion and undermined morale among workers. Germany 'will not be intimidated' by Russia: Wadephul German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Berlin would offer a measured response to last month's discovery of an explosives-laden drone near a Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig airport. The German

Germany is planning a comprehensive protective shield to prevent attacks like the failed assault on Leipzig airport, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said Sunday. On August 4, several small drones targeted Leipzig-Halle Airport in eastern Germany, with one hitting a parked plane, while another is thought to have struck an inbound cargo jet. German intelligence agencies blamed Russia for the incident, which Moscow has denied. What did Dobrindt say about the shield? Dobrindt told Bild am Sonntag newspaper that Russia's hybrid attacks are now a "daily" reality, adding: "These attacks will increase, but we can defend ourselves and protect ourselves." The newspaper cited information from the Interior Ministry showing the government plans to expand the federal police's mobile drone-defense units. The measures include vehicles and helicopters that can be quickly deployed to protect airspace over key cities like Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin to counter drone attacks. Bild said the shield would not only intercept drones, but could also defuse drone bombs and other explosive devices. The newspaper described how a change in the law would allow critical infrastructure operators — including water, power and defense companies — to detect and defend against drone sabotage. Russia's Lavrov accuses Merz of wanting war On Sunday, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed the German accusations levelled against Russia were "by and large, the start of a real war." He reiterated Russia's denial of any involvement with the Leipzig drone attack and criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for wanting to boost the country's military capability in response to hybrid threats. "All these statements by Merz about making Germany the leading military power in Europe once again — they are being put into practice. He is, in effect, declaring war on us," Lavrov told Russian state-run TV channel Vesti. He also criticized Germany's closure of Russian House cultural center in berlin and the Russian consulate in Bonn. New tech planned to boost cyber security Bild also described how a national protective cyber shield would be set up to detect and intercept hacking attacks. The measure comes amid hundreds of cyberattacks on government departments, infrastructure and companies each day, many of them blamed on Russia, other states and criminal gangs. The newspaper said the government also wants to increase the use of AI, biometric facial recognition and video surveillance, especially at transport hubs, to identify suspected attackers before they carry out attacks. Over 1,000 drone sightings in 2025 The head of Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), Holger Münch, told Bild in December that more than a thousand suspicious drone flights were recorded over Germany last year. These incidents mostly targeted military sites, airports, ports and defense firms and were treated as surveillance or harassment, rather than attacks. Leipzig airport has been targeted by sabotage before. In July 2024, a suspected Russian incendiary parcel caught fire at the airport's DHL hub. The cargo hub is also utilized by the Ukrainian military and NATO to airlift arms for use in the Ukrainian defense against Russia's invasion. Edited by: Wesley Dockery Don't let the algorithm hide the news. If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your Preferred Source on Google by clicking here and hitting the "star" or "preferred" button, so you'll always see our verified news first.

Berlin / Moscow (EFE) - The German government held Russia responsible on Tuesday for the hybrid drone attack on Leipzig Airport, where unmanned systems with explosives were found on August 4. "The federal government concludes that Russia is responsible for the hybrid attack carried out in Leipzig on August 4," said Germany's Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt at a press conference in Berlin alongside Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul. Wadephul announced, as a consequence, the closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn, in western Germany, and furthermore, the contract of the Russian cultural center "Casa Rusa" in Berlin will be canceled. Entry controls and more pressure on the phantom fleet In addition, Berlin will tighten "entry controls for Russian citizens and increase pressure on the phantom Russian fleet," the German foreign minister specified. Earlier, Dobrindt, who assured that investigations into the case continue, said that the German government reached that conclusion about Russia's authorship in light of information available to police and intelligence services, which "confirms Russian responsibility." "We do not consider Leipzig an isolated incident, but see it in connection with other hybrid actions," said the interior minister of the government led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz. According to Dobrindt, the so-called "low-level agents" would have perpetrated the attempted attack at the city’s Leipzig airport, where a drone loaded with explosives was found. After the discovery on the night of August 4 at Leipzig airport of a drone equipped with an explosive charge and the supposed collision, shortly after, of a second unmanned aerial vehicle with a DHL cargo plane, investigators uncovered ten days later a third one of these devices, as well as explosives, public regional broadcasters WDR and NDR and the newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung reported last week. Russia will respond to "anti-Russian" decisions Russia said on Tuesday that it would respond to "all anti-Russian" decisions by Germany, which it accused of being fully involved in the Ukrainian terrorist attacks against Russian territory. "Moscow will respond to all anti-Russian decisions," said Maria Zakharova, Foreign Ministry spokesperson, in statements to Interfax, after the German government held Moscow responsible for a hybrid drone attack carried out in early August against the city of Leipzig. She added that "Berlin is neck-deep in both instigating the Ukrainian conflict and participating in terrorist attacks against the civilian population," referring to Kiev’s drone attacks on Russia’s rear. Regarding the closure of Casa Rusa, she commented: "They were looking for an excuse (...) Casa Rusa didn’t leave them alone. That’s why they looked for something to cling to." Meloni calls for allied unity Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed this Tuesday Italy’s full solidarity with Germany after "the Russian hybrid attack in Leipzig" and assured that attempts to intimidate or sow discord among the allies "will not succeed." "Italy expresses full solidarity with Germany after the Russian hybrid attack carried out in Leipzig. The security of our allies is the security of all of us. Attempts to intimidate us or sow discord among the allies will not succeed," the leader wrote on her X account. Italy stands in full solidarity with Germany after the Russian hybrid attack in Leipzig. — Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) September 1, 2026 The security of our Allies is the security of us all. Attempts to intimidate us or to drive a wedge between Allies will not succeed: hybrid actions against any one of us are a matter of… Meloni said that hybrid actions aimed at any of the allies "are a cause for concern for all of us" and will receive "a united response." "In moments like this, it is essential to stay firm, continue working closely together and maintain a credible deterrent posture to defend the security of our citizens," the Italian prime minister added. Responding to hybrid attacks The French government, for its part, aligned itself with the stance that the hybrid attack from a month ago against an airport in the city of Leipzig cannot go unanswered, after the German government attributed the incident to Russia. "These hybrid attacks are multiplying in Europe. They cannot go unanswered," French President Emmanuel Macron stated on X. L’Allemagne a établi la responsabilité de la Russie dans les graves incidents survenus à Leipzig début août. — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) September 1, 2026 Ces attaques hybrides se multiplient en Europe. Elles ne peuvent rester sans réponse. La France est pleinement solidaire de l’Allemagne et soutient l’adoption de… The head of state affirmed that his country is "fully in solidarity with Germany and supports the adoption of new European sanctions against Russia." Similarly, Macron stated that, in the face of this "escalation," there is a need to remain "united, determined" and to strengthen support for Ukraine. "France will continue to do its part," he promised. "Another example of Russian provocations" Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, for his part, sees the drone with explosives at the German airport case as another example of Russian provocations aimed at increasing tensions across the region. "First it was Poland and the Baltic states and now Germany. Russia is increasing tensions across the region. We will not be intimidated and our response will be to continue supporting Ukraine and coordinating NATO countries against the aggressor, Russia," Tusk said on his X account. Poland, the Baltic states, Romania, and now Germany. Russia is escalating tension across the whole region. We’ll not be intimidated and our response will be our continued support for Ukraine and full coordination of NATO states against the aggressor. Russia will not win this war. — Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) September 1, 2026 "Russia will not win this war," he added.

The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, said this Wednesday that the hybrid drone attack from a month ago at an airport in the German city of Leipzig, which Berlin blames on Russia, has "all the characteristics of state-sponsored terrorism." "We will talk about the attacks in Leipzig, which clearly have all the characteristics of state-sponsored terrorism. The question is what we will do about it," Kallas said upon arriving at an informal foreign affairs meeting in the Irish town of Newtownmountkennedy. The head of the EU diplomatic service opened the door to adding more Russian military complex personalities and entities to the European sanctions list, which already includes more than 1,600 names, though she noted that no decisions would be taken at Wednesday’s meeting and only the possibility of expanding the measures would be discussed. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, and Canada’s foreign minister, Anita Anand, will participate as guests in this European gathering, at which they will discuss "how to coordinate and what more can be done in response to the Russian escalation" to pressure Moscow to end the war.

The European Union and NATO have pledged to redouble pressure on Vladimir Putin in response to the proliferation of hybrid attacks orchestrated by the Kremlin on the eastern flank, the latest episode of which, the failed drone attack at the Leipzig Airport, is interpreted as "a new escalation on European soil, directly attributable to Russia." However, neither the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, nor NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced new concrete punitive measures against Moscow after meeting this Wednesday in Brussels to coordinate a joint response to new threats. Beyond the rhetoric, Von der Leyen only revealed that she is working on expanding the "blacklist" of Russian leaders and entities subject to asset freezes and entry bans, and that she is studying "how to further cut the resources with which Russia finances its war." "We are united. Europe and NATO will not only maintain pressure on Russia. We will increase it. And we will not stop. Not until Russia stops bombing and killing innocent children, men, and women in Ukraine," the Commission President said during a joint press appearance with Rutte, where reporters’ questions were not allowed. Although it marks a qualitative leap, the attack on Leipzig Airport "is part of a broader pattern of increasingly dangerous incidents: repeated incursions into our airspace; drones that cripple our airports; interference with our critical infrastructure." "Europeans are facing a harsh reality: this is the new normal. We must step forward. And that means being prepared to respond better and faster to Russia’s audacity. We should regard our everyday infrastructures as frontline targets and protect them accordingly. And we will support any Member State that is targeted by Russia," Von der Leyen said. In her view, the increase in hybrid assaults orchestrated by the Kremlin requires ramping up support for Ukraine and also accelerating Europe’s rearmament, prioritizing air defense, early warning systems, and drone interception. "Europe must mobilize its defense reinforcement even more quickly. Air defenses are crucial. We need a faster and more integrated alert system across Europe. And then we must intercept the threats more rapidly," the President stated. NATO Secretary General, for his part, denounced that "Russia is becoming increasingly reckless as it continues its terrible war against Ukraine." "We have seen more drones and missiles crossing our airspace along our eastern flank, which increases the risks. We have also witnessed a rise in malicious activities directed at our territory, whether arson at factories that produce defense material for Ukraine or, indeed, the Russian hybrid attack in Leipzig." "The dangers posed by Russia are evident, and we are working tirelessly to ensure we are prepared to keep our population safe," Rutte insisted. The NATO Secretary General defended intensifying economic and military support to Ukraine, particularly in the aerial realm, and he assured that the Kremlin’s hybrid attacks on Ukrainian territory will not succeed in causing the allies to abandon Kyiv. "If Russia thinks the threat will divide us or deter us from supporting Ukraine, it is mistaken. Our unity remains intact. Our support for Ukraine is steadfast," he concluded.

Hardening visa processing restrictions for Russian tourists will be the European Union’s first response to Moscow’s alleged hybrid attack on Leipzig Airport. If, in addition to being Russian, the applicant also served as a soldier or mercenary, they will in no way be allowed to set foot on European soil. The decision was not made at random. It came after German press attributed to a person of Russian origin with a Lithuanian passport and to another of Belarusian nationality the authorship of sending a drone loaded with explosives to NATO’s civil and logistics hub in eastern Germany. One of them entered Europe with Schengen travel documents issued in late April in Italy, according to the joint investigation by Süddeutsche Zeitung and regional channels NDR and WDR. The finding embarrassed Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who pledged to clarify what happened. “If it is true, and of course it is up to the German authorities to confirm or deny, this clearly shows that visas are a tool used by those who intend to harm the European Union to gain entry into it,” said EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, Kaja Kallas, on Wednesday. “In fact, today, during the Ukraine debate, many have pointed to the need to restrict visa concessions,” added the head of European diplomacy at the end of the meeting of EU foreign ministers in the Irish village of Newtownmountkennedy. All expressed broad support for the idea, according to Kallas. “It is not right that during this war Russians come and enjoy the hospitality of European countries,” argued the former Estonian prime minister. “Many member states have warned that, in reality, this type of tourist visas is being used for acts of sabotage,” she added. Resistance partly comes from countries that continue to benefit from Russian tourism. As Euractiv revealed last May, granting Schengen visas to Russian citizens rose 8.4% in 2025 to exceed 477,000 tourism authorizations, representing 77% of the total granted to this nationality. For Kallas, what happened in Leipzig was not an isolated incident. “Since 2022, we have witnessed systematic attacks across Europe. Sabotage, cyberattacks, and espionage are becoming more frequent and brazen. The head of European diplomacy recalled from Ireland that Brussels had summoned the Russian representative to the EU and was “advancing with the adoption of more sanctions” to choke the Kremlin’s war economy. “We already have 1,600 inclusions on the list related to Russia’s military complex and perhaps more could be added,” Kallas hinted, referring to an incoming package of new sanctions against Russian individuals and companies aiding Moscow’s war effort. This week, German Interior Minister and Foreign Minister, Alexander Dobrindt and Johann Wadephul, officially held Russia responsible for the Leipzig attack. In a joint appearance, both described the incident as a hybrid war act aimed at intimidating the population and creating divisions in countries that closed ranks with Ukraine after Moscow’s large-scale invasion in February 2022. The Kremlin vehemently rejected the accusations as “baseless and Russophobic” and urgently summoned the German ambassador to Moscow. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned that Moscow will not leave without an answer what it considers a political provocation intended to justify a new escalation of sanctions.

El Gobierno alemán ha responsabilizado este martes oficialmente a Rusia del intento de atentado con un dron cargado de explosivos contra el aeropuerto de Leipzig/Halle, uno de los principales centros logísticos de Alemania y una infraestructura clave para el transporte de material hacia Ucrania. Berlín considera que el ataque, que fracasó porque el artefacto no llegó a explotar, forma parte de la campaña de guerra híbrida que Moscú desarrolla en territorio europeo. El ministro del Interior, Alexander Dobrindt, anunció la conclusión de las investigaciones durante una comparecencia conjunta en Berlín con el titular de Exteriores, Johann Wadephul. Según Dobrindt, los resultados de la investigación policial, el modus operandi y la información obtenida por los servicios de Inteligencia permiten al Gobierno alemán atribuir a Rusia la autoría del intento de atentado. El incidente se produjo en la noche del 4 al 5 de agosto en el aeropuerto de Leipzig/Halle. Una de las aeronaves no tripuladas, equipada con explosivos y un detonador, apareció en la zona de seguridad del aeropuerto, en las inmediaciones de aviones de carga ucranianos. Entre las aeronaves estacionadas se encontraban Antonov An-124 utilizadas para el transporte de mercancías y material. El explosivo no llegó a detonar y pudo ser posteriormente desactivado. La gravedad del episodio reside también en el carácter estratégico del aeropuerto. Leipzig/Halle es uno de los grandes centros europeos de carga aérea y participa en operaciones logísticas vinculadas a la OTAN y al apoyo a Ucrania. Para las autoridades alemanas, el objetivo del ataque era por tanto mucho más que una infraestructura civil. Hasta ahora, Berlín había evitado señalar directamente a Moscú. Dobrindt se había limitado a hablar de un "nuevo escenario de ataques" y de acciones híbridas promovidas por "potencias extranjeras", mientras continuaban las investigaciones. El canciller Friedrich Merz había adelantado el domingo que las pesquisas estaban prácticamente concluidas y que Alemania preparaba una respuesta coordinada con sus aliados. La acusación supone una nueva escalada en las ya deterioradas relaciones entre Berlín y Moscú. Wadephul había anticipado que Alemania respondería de manera "equilibrada y meditada", pero dejando claro que el Gobierno no estaba dispuesto a aceptar ataques contra infraestructuras alemanas como parte de una supuesta zona gris entre la paz y la guerra. La respuesta diplomática es además inmediata. Alemania ha anunciado el cierre del consulado ruso en Bonn a partir del 18 de septiembre y la rescisión del acuerdo que permite el funcionamiento de la Casa Rusa (Russisches Haus) en Berlín, uno de los principales instrumentos de presencia cultural rusa en Alemania. Moscú ha rechazado hasta ahora cualquier responsabilidad en el incidente. El Kremlin y las autoridades rusas han negado reiteradamente las acusaciones occidentales sobre operaciones de sabotaje en Europa y las han presentado como intentos de alimentar una campaña antirrusa. El caso de Leipzig se inscribe en una sucesión de incidentes que los servicios de seguridad europeos investigan desde el comienzo de la invasión de Ucrania: incendios, sabotajes, ciberataques, paquetes incendiarios y vuelos de drones sobre instalaciones militares y otras infraestructuras críticas. Alemania sospechó ya de una operación rusa tras un incendio registrado en el mismo aeropuerto de Leipzig/Halle en 2024. Por su parte, el secretario general de la OTAN, Mark Rutte, ha asegurado este martes que la Alianza seguirá reforzando su capacidad "para disuadir y defender a todos los aliados frente a cualquier amenaza, incluidas acciones malintencionadas como las observadas en Leipzig".

- Europe Germany accuses Russia of the attempted drone attack laden with explosives in Leipzig - War in Europe Russia crosses the red line of hybrid warfare in Germany and NATO and the EU respond: "Their attempts to undermine our unity are useless and will fail" Europe faces a new wave of sabotage. In August there were explosions at ammunition factories in Italy and Bulgaria, but it has been Germany that officially held Russia responsible for the hybrid drone attack attempt in Leipzig. They are not isolated episodes. They are part of a broader Russian pressure strategy, at a moment marked by three factors: Russia’s general elections on September 20, for which the Kremlin needs to feed antagonism with the West; the growing supply of increasingly sophisticated Western weapons to Ukraine, which Moscow has called “legitimate targets”; and a war in which Russian advances remain slow, costly, and insufficient to force a quick victory. The Kremlin needs the threat of escalation to be credible. And for that, hybrid warfare is nearly a perfect instrument. It costs less than open military confrontation, complicates immediate attribution, and allows sowing insecurity without formally crossing the threshold of an attack on NATO. Moscow does not need to trigger a conventional war with Europe. It suffices to convince Europeans that they might be approaching it. Germany is an especially attractive target for this strategy. Not only for its economic weight, but because any change in Berlin alters the European political balance. Germany is the continent’s leading industrial power, one of its large logistics hubs, and a decisive actor in both the EU and NATO. Resources, equipment, and capacities essential to aid Ukraine and to reinforce the Alliance’s eastern flank flow through its territory. In addition, Germany carries a specific vulnerability: for decades it built a substantial part of its economic and political model on the conviction that interdependence with Russia would reduce the risk of conflict. Cheap Russian energy fed German industrial competitiveness and trade presented itself as a stabilizing tool. The invasion of Ukraine demolished that architecture, but did not eliminate its inertia. Germany continues paying the economic, political, and psychological cost of that rupture. For Moscow, the objective of the escalation threat is to exploit and amplify divisions that already exist, both within Germany and among European countries, given the prospect of a prolonged confrontation with Russia and rising military and energy spending. For a significant portion of public opinion, avoiding escalation constitutes a political objective in itself. This sensitivity, particularly rooted in Germany, does not necessarily imply sympathy for Russia, but it can favor narratives that present rearmament, military support to Ukraine, or strengthening NATO as factors that bring Europe closer to a broader war. The problem is that this approach tends to ignore a fundamental reality: Russia has been waging a hybrid war against Europe for a long time. The appeasement of this fact will give more wings to the Kremlin. * Mira Milosevich is principal researcher at Real Instituto Elcano and writer.

Europe Germany accuses Russia of attempting to stage a drone bombing in Leipzig with explosives Germany accuses Russia of the attempted bombing with an explosive-laden drone in Leipzig War What are tactical nuclear weapons? Could Russia use them against Ukraine? Leipzig is well acquainted with Moscow's long reach since 1945 when it was integrated into the Soviet zone and later into the GDR: even its university was renamed in 1953 after Karl Marx. But Leipzig also opened one of the first decisive cracks in that system: in October 1989 about 70,000 people peacefully walked through the city center shouting 'Wir sind das Volk' (we are the people). Security forces did not fire; the Gorbatchov Kremlin was no longer willing to save its allies with tanks... and a month later the Berlin Wall fell, with a young Vladimir Putin watching the uproar from the fence of the KGB headquarters in Dresden, about 120 kilometers from Leipzig, which thus went from showcasing Soviet power to staging its disintegration. That loosening of the system is now Moscow trying to inoculate in the opposite direction. The recent attempt against a Ukrainian aircraft shows how Moscow has rebuilt its European networks with cheap agents; the trench-coat men from 20th-century films have given way to unemployed and immigrants lured by Telegram. Germany accuses Russia of the August 4 attempt to attack in Leipzig/Halle. Airport employees found near several Ukrainian Antonovs a drone with 600 grams of explosive and a detonator that failed. The probable target was an An-124 used to transport military material. Russia has identified Germany as Ukraine's deep rear. Putin revives a tool that late KGB had set aside. During the 1970s and 1980s, Soviet intelligence in the West focused on spying, infiltrating, funding allied groups, and disinformation. While in Germany or France electorates are stirred with ideas like pursuing peace or preparing for a possible war, current Russia does not clearly separate peace from war in Europe. Its services operate under the protection of nuclear deterrence and below the threshold of a NATO response. The current sabotage aims to raise the cost of helping Ukraine, sow insecurity, and force protection of thousands of targets. When it doesn’t work, the project is not abandoned, but the stakes are raised. Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan, experts on Russian espionage, describe in a CEPA report the 'Stalinization' of Russian services. 'For Stalin, war was not an exception, but the natural condition of the regime,' they write. Now that the Kremlin believes it faces a major confrontation with the West, 'its services seem to be returning to Stalinist methods': espionage, subversion, sabotage, and assassinations belong to the same repertoire. The GRU is its most aggressive arm. General Andrei Averyanov's Main Intelligence Directorate includes Unit 29155, linked to the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and the Vrbetice depot explosion in the Czech Republic. The FSB's Fifth Service maintains external sabotage networks. They compete for Putin’s favor, though their tasks overlap. THE NEW INVISIBLE INFANTRY The expulsions of Russian diplomats after 2022 damaged traditional networks. Moscow responded by operating remotely through intermediaries, criminals, and recruits with no military history. The 'disposable agent' receives via Telegram the task of photographing a route, installing a camera, setting a warehouse on fire... or placing a drone. They earn little, sometimes in cryptocurrency, and may not know who gave the order. If they are caught, their handler opens another account. They are recruited by vulnerability, not ideology: the useful candidate does not have to be pro-Russian: they can be a debt-ridden young person, a minor criminal, an immigrant, a Ukrainian refugee, or someone seeking quick money. Telegram, Instagram, Viber, and even gaming communities allow tasks to be offered without explaining who pays for them. Some recruits believe they are working for a private company or a criminal gang. Even failure is useful: it reveals access points and response times, consumes police resources, and amplifies vulnerability. Recruiting Ukrainians yields double benefit: it damages infrastructure and, if they are detained, fuels hostility toward refugees and erodes support for Kyiv. Organized sabotage is today cheap, fragmented, scalable, and deniable. Europe’s map of precedents is dotted with incidents: incendiary packages were found in Leipzig, Birmingham, and Poland; a burned-down Ikea in Vilnius and operations in Estonia and France. Moscow does not need to paralyze the continent; it suffices to show it can touch it anywhere. In Germany and in the 'lands of blood' slaughtered by Hitler and Stalin on which historian Timothy Snyder wrote, Russia now returns without tanks or banners. The leap from the Cold War is already visible to all.

The European Union has assured this Wednesday that it is working on new sanctions and on strengthening the enforcement of the ones already imposed against a Russia that not only has no intention of ending its war against Ukraine but is also increasingly “daredevil” in its hybrid attacks against Kiev's European allies. This is evidenced by the frustrated drone-exploded attack against the airport in the German city of Leipzig in early August. The incident, for which the German government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz has directly blamed Moscow this week, is not just another event in the long hybrid war that Russia is waging against the EU for its support of Ukraine. The serious case reported by Germany marks, according to high European officials, a turning point because it had “all the characteristics of state-sponsored terrorism,” as stated by EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas at the informal meeting of foreign ministers in Wicklow, Ireland, where the question of how to tighten the screws on Moscow further, unanimously condemned by the Leipzig attack, occupied much of the discussions. “We are talking about an attack carried out with military-grade material by Russian agents on EU soil. We will not tolerate it,” also stressed Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, in a joint press conference in Brussels with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, with whom she denounced an “escalation” of Moscow’s actions that, all high officials agree, requires “more pressure,” with new sanctions against Vladimir Putin’s government. After 21sanction packages since the war began in 2022, the room for maneuver, however, is shrinking. Nevertheless, European foreign ministers have already begun discussions to see “what more can be done,” according to Kallas. In their sights is the Russian arms industry, as the head of the European External Action Service has advanced. She indicated that a list of more than 1,600 people and entities related to the Russian military-industrial complex is being prepared to add to the European blacklist. It is the “largest” package to date, emphasized the Estonian politician, who also insisted on the need to strengthen the enforcement of the sanctions already imposed. In this regard, she noted that Ukraine has identified more than 5,500 Western and Asian components in Russian weapons. “After four years of war, this is inexcusable. Those components should not be there,” she stressed. Paris, for its part, intended to propose new European sanctions against ships of the so-called Russian ghost fleet, thus strengthening its response to Moscow’s actions, reports Daniel Verdú. The high representative said at the end of the meeting that there is also again broad support to move forward with a visa ban for entry into the EU for former Russian combatants, as especially demanded by the Baltic states, and “tougher” visa restrictions for Russian tourists, something that had been eased before the summer under pressure from several capitals. “It is not right that the country bombs Ukraine, killing more civilians than ever in this war during July and August, and that meanwhile Russians enter [the EU] and enjoy the hospitality of European countries,” Kallas emphasized. According to Süddeutsche Zeitung and the German regional broadcasters NDR and WDR, one of the two men with a Russian passport identified by German police as possible authors of the Leipzig attack had entered the Schengen area through Italy, with a tourist visa. If this information is confirmed, “I hope it will convince certain member states that opposed advancing visa restrictions that, in reality, what is at stake is both our security and Ukraine’s,” Kallas said. During the meeting, she indicated, the issue of using frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine was also raised again, as Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Poland proposed on the eve of the Irish meeting, though this measure still faces Belgium’s opposition. This Tuesday, the German government formally blamed Russia for this attack, carried out on August 4 and aimed at Ukrainian cargo planes. “If that attack had succeeded, it would have caused enormous damage and possibly even loss of human lives,” Von der Leyen stressed a day later. “The dangers posed by Russia are evident, and we are working tirelessly to ensure we are prepared to guarantee the safety of our population,” Rutte noted. “If Russia thinks this threat will divide us, or that it will deter us from supporting Ukraine, it is mistaken. Our unity is unbreakable. Our support for Ukraine is clear,” he said. “Russia must understand that it is not its threats, its hybrid or non-hybrid attacks that will change the EU’s position. It is anchored in fundamental principles of international law: respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and peace. And that is why we will maintain support for Ukraine even if Russia threatens us,” agreed the President of the European Council, António Costa, from Luxembourg. Our message to Russia: you will not prevail. You will not divide us. pic.twitter.com/d7bbnXqbhn — António Costa (@eucopresident) September 2, 2026 Following Berlin’s accusations, the EU and several European countries such as France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, or Germany itself have summoned Russian diplomatic representatives in their capitals. According to France’s Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, the aim is to “protest vigorously” against the Russian diplomatic affairs chief in Paris for the “hybrid attack” attributed to Russia. An attempt, he said from Wicklow, whose “result is a failure (...) our support for Ukraine has continued to strengthen. We will not leave such a grave act without consequences,” Barrot promised. “Russia cannot assume that it can carry out these operations in our countries without consequences,” echoed Belgium’s counterpart, Maxime Prévot. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressed gratitude for the widespread shows of solidarity and congratulated the efforts to sanction Russia even more harshly. “Pressure on Russia is intensifying and support for Ukraine remains high. That is the unity we are showing at this moment,” Baerbock said, for whom Moscow must pay because it is the main cause of the new tension: “Russia has caused this escalation and will now have to face the consequences,” she concluded.

Three violent acts in 48 hours have put Germany on high alert, and even more so when they coincide with the federal government's accusation against Russia, which it said is behind hybrid attacks in its country. A power substation in the state of Brandenburg was attacked on Tuesday with explosives and homemade rockets. The same day that German Foreign Minister and Interior Minister pointed to Moscow as responsible for the failed drone bombing offensive at the Leipzig airport on August 4. Less than 24 hours later, on Wednesday, another power substation was attacked and an explosion occurred at a train station. "Whoever is behind this is attacking our country," said this Wednesday Herbert Reul, Interior Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia. Reul held a press conference after sabotage at a power substation in the Cologne region, causing localized power supply cuts. Police confirmed the facilities were damaged and that homemade rockets were found in the area. Police added that the attack caused a short circuit that temporarily knocked out the Niederaussem and Neurath power plants. Homemade rockets were also identified the previous day at the Brandenburg substation. The objective, according to the electric companies, was to trigger a blackout at the Jänschwalde power plant, the largest in the region, which depends on the attacked substation. Police have not linked this incident and the one in Cologne yet, but Michael Esser, head of the criminal police of North Rhine-Westphalia, told the Bild newspaper that the two sabotages are virtually identical. "They are not isolated cases; they must be treated by the intelligence services," said Mona Neubar, Minister of Economy of North Rhine-Westphalia. Reul indicated that authorities consider two options: that the Cologne attack is the work of "a foreign actor" or of some radical left-wing group. Berlin had already suffered a blackout in January that left 50,000 homes without power due to sabotage by the far-left terrorist organization Vulkangruppe. The third violent act in the last 48 hours was the explosion that occurred in the early hours of Wednesday at the Augsburg train station in Bavaria. The device (some witnesses identified it as a grenade, though the police did not confirm this) caused two minor injuries and damage to homes and businesses. This incident is not, at the moment, linked to the attacks on the Brandenburg and Cologne substations. Suspects in Leipzig The authors of these incidents are unknown, but Berlin has no doubts about the failed August 4 attack against Ukrainian cargo planes stationed at Leipzig airport. Russia is behind an operation in which at least two drones with explosive payloads were used. The possible presence of a third drone is not ruled out. One of the drones armed with explosives was found just a few meters from a transport An-2 aircraft. An error in the detonator prevented the device from destroying the aircraft and causing greater damage. Another drone loaded with explosives was discovered a week and a half later, on the 14th, in the airport perimeter. The police have two suspects in their sights, according to reports this Wednesday from the Süddeutsche Zeitung and public broadcasters NDR and WDR. One is a Russian-born Latvian citizen who would have traveled to Saxony in late July to organize logistics and train drone pilots. This person would be in contact with Russian security services. The second suspect is a Belarusian citizen with a Russian passport who entered the European Union through Italy with a tourist visa. His identity has been confirmed, according to the cited media, because his DNA was identified on some objects used in the attack: specifically, on one of the drones, on an antenna tied to a tree to extend the drone signal, and on a container with explosive. Authorities had his DNA after being arrested in Finland and in Lithuania. The suspects are no longer on EU soil, according to ARD public television. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt advanced on Tuesday that the mode of operation and the equipment used in Leipzig were the same as in other Russian attacks against Ukrainian interests. Dobrindt did not provide concrete evidence such as the presence of the two suspects at the scene. German intelligence services also revealed this August that they were investigating Russian security services as responsible for a gun cache hidden in a Berlin forest and discovered in 2025. This armament, according to the investigation, could be used to carry out acts against Ukrainian interests in Germany.

The Vice President of the Security Council, Dmitri Medvedev, sets his sights on European heads of state and recalls that they “often travel to Kiev by train.” Moscow denies the actions of its secret services in sabotage in Germany and, at the same time, celebrates them. Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Berlin of planting the evidence that demonstrates its involvement in the appearance of explosive drones at Leipzig Airport. “I think this accusation is mainly due to the internal German political situation. Its chancellor is in a difficult position; he does not enjoy the trust of his citizens,” the Russian leader said. “Where is the evidence? Well, they planted the evidence,” Putin asserted before departing for Vladivostok, where the Eastern Economic Forum is taking place. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that it does not make sense for its intelligence services to plan sabotage against Germany, which is the second country that has given the most support to Ukraine. “The entire story about the drone makes no sense. There are no facts or evidence to support it, absolutely nothing,” Zakharova declared. For decades, the Kremlin has denied actions of Russia whose responsibility it later acknowledged. For example, the invasion of Crimea in 2014, the accidental downing of an Azerbaijani civilian aircraft in 2024, or the murder of Russian dissidents inside Germany until the agents who carried them out were welcomed by Putin at the airport. And there are other precedents, such as the cutting of submarine cables in the Baltic Sea and arson at several European facilities, such as the deadly explosion at the Vrbetice weapons depot in the Czech Republic in 2014. For its part, the Russian Defense Ministry published in April of this year a list of European arms factories that the Vice President of the Security Council, Dmitri Medvedev, called “potential targets.” The drones’ objective would be to destabilize the German government and its commitment to Kiev. Putin has bet on the rise to power of the German far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD). The party has around 30% support in polls ahead of the regional elections next Sunday, and Moscow has extended a bridge to it in the hope of tearing the European Union apart from the inside. Gazprom chief Alexei Miller hosted a delegation from AfD in June with promises of cheap gas for Germany in exchange for aligning their interests with the Kremlin. “We hope to build a great future together with AfD, the most popular party in Germany,” said Kirill Dmitriev, the businessman and head of negotiations with the United States. This Wednesday, the Russian embassy in Germany published a statement joining Putin’s line of argument. “German authorities have blamed Russia for the preparation of the supposed sabotage without presenting proofs or arguments,” the diplomatic mission said. The Russian ambassador to Germany, Sergei Nechayev, said it was an “unprecedented escalation” in tension between the two countries and accused Ukraine and the European military industry of being behind it to fuel the conflict. The former president Dmitri Medvedev has taken another step by justifying placing bombs in Europe due to its support for Ukraine. “Berlin has accused Russia of an unproven attack on Leipzig Airport. Given the neonazi and ruthlessly russophobe policies of the German government, an act of sabotage is the mildest punishment for its crimes,” the high official stated. Medvedev, known for his incendiary posts on Telegram, has also sent a veiled threat to European politicians. “All terrorism has sponsors. At this moment they are the heads of state of Western, primarily European, countries, and they usually travel to Kiev by train…,” said the politician, considered one of the Kremlin’s hawks, with the mission to berate the West and threaten Ukraine.

Threats are no longer hybrid. They are very real actions. The thwarted attack, with drones loaded with explosives, against Germany’s Leipzig airport, after which Berlin directly pointed the finger at Moscow, is marking a turning point in a European Union where in recent weeks and months other drone incidents and sabotage have multiplied, after which Russia’s hand is also suspected. The bloc, more than ever aware that the Kremlin has no intention for now of seeking an exit from the military dead end into which it has driven the whole continent with its offensive against Ukraine more than four years ago, has closed ranks once again with Kiev. “Russia has to understand that these threats, hybrid or not, are not going to change the European Union’s position. We will remain on Ukraine’s side regardless of the threats Russia might make against us,” summarized this week the sentiment of the Twenty-Seven by European Council President Charles Michel. And this, besides continuing to militarily and financially support Ukraine, implies seeking new ways to make the war increasingly costly for Moscow, capitals agree. But after more than four intense years approving restrictive measures that have already placed nearly 3,000 individuals and entities on European blacklists, Brussels also recognizes the growing difficulty of agreeing ambitious sanctions packages, despite constituting the most forceful instrument of pressure on the Russian aggressor. Not only because the scope of action, after 21 packages, is beginning to narrow, but also because it is increasingly hard to secure that no country blocks the measures due to clashes with national interests, as happened in July. Something that is obliging the Twenty-Seven to seek a change of method that allows them to stay true in substance to the unwavering backing of Ukraine that everyone knows is what irritates the Kremlin the most. Brussels closed up shop for the summer break with a somewhat bittersweet taste. The 21st sanctions package was ambitious and hard, but should have been much more: in the end, several of the measures planned in that and previous packages were scaled back after several countries opposed some measures that harmed their national interests—among others Greece, which even threatened a veto, won concessions for its maritime sector around the transport of liquefied natural gas (LNG) outside the EU, while Austria also obtained an exemption for Raiffeisen Bank, which continues to operate in Russia. Germany and Portugal blocked attempts to limit the entry of fish from Russia, and France and Italy watered down the idea of limiting visas for Russian fighters that the Baltic States had strongly pushed, which continue to demand greater restrictions on tourist visas for Russian citizens. Thus, while Ukraine lived one of its deadliest summers and Germany narrowly avoided an attack in which, according to German media, at least one of its alleged perpetrators had managed to enter European territory with an Italian tourist visa, tens of thousands of Russian citizens were again vacationing in European beaches and other destinations. Figures have fallen substantially since the war began, from four million visas issued annually through 2022 to 618,000 in 2025, according to the latest data from the European Commission. But for many capitals, there are still too many Russians who can travel through Europe with relative ease. “It is not right for a country to bombard Ukraine, killing more civilians than ever in this war during July and August, and at the same time Russians to enter [the EU] and enjoy the hospitality of European countries,” complained the EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, during the informal meeting of foreign ministers in Ireland that opened this week’s European political cycle. But although the Estonian leader stated that there is now a “broad support” to revisit the visa issue, there are still no guarantees that it will happen, since, as some countries recall, some legal issues raised to reduce the initiative in July have not yet been resolved. “The fact that political solidarity is manifested does not always translate into concrete measures,” warns an European diplomatic source. In fact, other calls, such as from Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski to close all Russian consulates in Europe, have not had much resonance either, despite half a dozen governments summoning the Russian ambassadors after the Leipzig incident to provide explanations and listen to European condemnation of an attack Moscow continues to deny responsibility for. Rosja rozumie jedynie język siły pic.twitter.com/TFvXoW3G8a — Radosław Sikorski 🇵🇱🇪🇺 (@sikorskiradek) September 2, 2026. Hopes are also low that the recent attempt by Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Poland to reopen the debate on frozen Russian assets to finance aid to Ukraine will break, at least soon, Belgium’s firm stance that blocked that proposal last December. In this context, another debate that has been open in Brussels for months gains momentum about the need to change the sanctions “approach,” sources familiar with closed-door deliberations note. Instead of trying to pass very broad packages in quick succession, which require ever-increasing unanimity, the idea would be to focus on very concrete objectives or sectors. This does not necessarily mean ending sanctions packages, the sources clarify, but working in parallel on more targeted lists to include in the EU’s blacklists. Like the 1,600 names of individuals and entities that Brussels is finalizing for the next ministers’ meeting in October, which constitutes the largest list worked on to date. Also, in recent days, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has stressed that we must work to close the “gaps” in previous sanctions packages that continue to enable evasion of restrictions. Such as those that allow Russia to use Western and Asian components in its weapons. Ukraine says it has identified more than 5,500 of these components in neutralized Russian targets. “After four years of war, this is inexcusable. Those components should not be there,” Kallas condemned. Because despite the difficulties, “we all agree that we must continue to pressure Russia, that has never changed,” says another diplomatic source. “Europe and NATO will not only maintain the pressure on Russia, they will intensify it. And we will not stop,” von der Leyen also promised at a press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte after Berlin accused Moscow on Tuesday of the Leipzig attack thwarted in early August. And that is important, emphasizes Ian Lesser, a Berlin office analyst at the German Marshall Fund (GMF), because sanctions also “have a highly symbolic character.” And although they have not yet achieved their main objective, to bring Moscow to the negotiating table for a peaceful end to the war, sanctions are also a “mechanism to generate a unified international response,” he stressed in a phone interview. “Even though we know the utility of sanctions, in a direct sense, is questionable, the political utility of sanctions as an instrument remains valid on the side of the allies.” Moreover, he adds, weakening that sanctions mechanism now, “what image would that give? It would send the signal that the West is not united, and that is something no one wants to do.”

La Unión Europea está estudiando nuevas sanciones contra Rusia como respuesta a los ataques fallidos contra aviones de carga ucranianos en el aeropuerto de Leipzig el mes pasado. Al menos tres drones fueron detectados en el aeródromo y en sus proximidades, un acto que Alemania atribuyó a Moscú este martes y que ha llevado a las instituciones europeas a convocar al encargado de negocios de Rusia, el máximo representante diplomático del país en Bruselas, para pedirle explicaciones. “Ya hemos convocado a los embajadores rusos —al igual que muchos Estados miembros— y debatiremos qué más podemos hacer. También tenemos en preparación la inclusión de 1.600 entidades del complejo militar ruso en las listas de sanciones, y es posible que se añadan más”, ha asegurado la jefa de la diplomacia europea, Kaja Kallas, al margen de la reunión informal de ministros de Exteriores de la UE que se celebra este miércoles en Irlanda. Kallas ha señalado que los ataques de Leipzig presentan “todas las características del terrorismo patrocinado por el Estado” y ha destacado que los ataques híbridos en Europa sirven como una “llamada de atención” para los países que no han adoptado una postura “firme” al respecto. La representante exterior de la UE ha indicado que se están explorando vías para reforzar la protección de infraestructuras críticas, incluida la realización de ejercicios conjuntos y el desarrollo de nuevas herramientas que ya se están probando en Ucrania. Unidad frente a Rusia Las principales instituciones europeas están tratando de lanzar un mensaje de firmeza y de unidad ante los crecientes ataques híbridos de Rusia contra los países del bloque. La presidenta de la Comisión Europea, Úrsula Von der Leyen, y el secretario general de la OTAN, Mark Rutte, se han reunido este miércoles para estudiar posibles respuestas al incidente de Leipzig, entre ellas el refuerzo de las capacidades defensivas y el uso de sanciones. “Europa y la OTAN no solo mantendrán la presión sobre Rusia, sino que la aumentarán. Y no nos detendremos, no hasta que Rusia deje de bombardear y matar a niños, hombres y mujeres inocentes en Ucrania”, ha asegurado Von der Leyen en una comparecencia conjunta con Rutte tras la reunión. “Debemos dar un paso al frente. Y eso significa estar preparados para responder a la imprudencia de Rusia de manera más rápida y eficaz. Debemos considerar nuestras infraestructuras cotidianas como objetivos de primera línea y protegerlas en consecuencia”. En la misma línea se ha posicionado el secretario general de la Alianza, quien ha hecho una llamamiento a la cooperación de los países miembros para reforzar la seguridad del continente. “Se requieren inversiones para adquirir capacidades y necesitamos que la industria dé un paso al frente, algo en lo que ya hemos observado avances extraordinarios. Pero no se trata solo de nuevas fábricas o líneas de producción adicionales, por muy importantes que sean. Se trata también de facilitar la cooperación entre empresas del sector, tanto dentro de Europa como en el conjunto de la Alianza”, ha afirmado. Suscríbete para seguir leyendo - Marruecos vira en un mes del silencio protocolario a reivindicar el 'derecho histórico' sobre Ceuta y Melilla - La OTAN y la UE apuntan a una respuesta a Rusia tras atribuirle Alemania un ataque híbrido sobre el país - Delcy Rodríguez defiende el acuerdo con Trump e insiste en que el petróleo seguirá siendo propiedad de Venezuela - En Rusia, te pueden parar por la calle, obligarte a firmar un contrato y enviarte al frente - ¿Qué pasó con el barco hundido en Chipre? Exceso de velocidad y fallos de seguridad, las claves del naufragio - Guerra de Irán, en directo: Nuevos ataques cruzados y amenazas endurecen el conflicto - Ocho muertos y 17 desaparecidos en el naufragio de un ferry con 267 pasajeros cerca de Chipre - Objetivo desesperado de Putin: reclutar a 300.000 hombres para la máquina de guerra del Kremlin

Germany–Russia – Germany has officially designated Russia as responsible for the drone attack at Leipzig Airport on August 4. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Foreign Affairs Minister Johann Wadephul announced it at a joint press conference in Berlin on Tuesday evening, September 1. Following investigations by various services This assessment rests on the conclusions of investigations conducted by local security authorities and on concordant reports from national and international intelligence services. Mr. Dobrindt spoke of evidence and convincing indications that clearly suggest Russia’s direct involvement in the planning and execution of this hybrid attack. Mr. Dobrindt referred to attack patterns. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also said that this drone attack should not be viewed in isolation. It fits into a series of hybrid attacks that, taken together, justify moving from an abstract alert level to a high level. Mr. Dobrindt had already initiated this escalation in June. Targets: critical infrastructure, weapons manufacturers, and support to Ukraine Mr. Dobrindt described a recurring pattern across several hybrid actions, primarily aimed at sabotage and disruption. The targets of these attacks were critical infrastructure, weapons manufacturers, and Ukraine-support services. In several cases, targets, means, modus operandi, and profiles of perpetrators were similar. Moreover, analysis of the seized evidence confirms the suspicions. The drone’s configuration and the means used, such as explosives, were also employed by Russia during the war in Ukraine. This operation was accompanied by a professional approach, advanced technical expertise, and rigorous planning. “Russia is responsible for the hybrid attack,” says Mr. Dobrindt So-called “low-level” agents were used to carry out the attack. This corresponds to a hybrid modus operandi known to Russia. Therefore, based on the analysis and the conclusions of national and foreign intelligence services, the following conclusion is drawn: “Russia is responsible for the August 4 Leipzig hybrid attack.” Alexander Dobrindt emphasized that Germany is “not at war.” The country is nevertheless a “daily target of hybrid warfare,” and further attacks of this type should be expected. There is a presumption of a “will to inflict even greater damage through hybrid attacks.” The German government will respond to the Leipzig attack “in a proportionate and prudent manner, but with the same firmness.” Discussions regarding a response to the attack took place within the National Security Council and the Federal Cabinet. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was involved in all decisions. Berlin announces measures of retaliation against Russia Foreign Minister Wadephul said the Russian ambassador had already been summoned about this. Several measures have been ordered and will be implemented soon. Among them is the closure of the Russian consulate-general in Bonn, the former capital. In addition, the contract for the use of the “Russian House” in Berlin will be terminated. Furthermore, the German government intends to strengthen entry controls for Russian citizens on its territory and propose new lists of individuals targeted by hybrid attacks against the EU. At the same time, support for Ukraine and cooperation with NATO and EU partners will continue. Pressure on the Russian drone fleet will also be intensified. Mr. Dobrindt also announced a plan to strengthen and expand the security sector, notably in terms of personnel. He indicated that various measures and legislations had already been implemented in recent months to counter hybrid threats. These include opening a joint federal-state center for drone defense and reform of intelligence services. These services will be refined in light of recent developments to create true intelligence agencies. “The federal government regrets the bilateral situation.” Regarding relations between the two countries, Minister Wadephul said Russia is “openly hostile toward [their] country.” He stressed that this state of [their] relations is not in the interest of the German government and “expressly regretted” it. This has been repeatedly emphasized since the start of the war in Ukraine. The goal is indeed to “end the war, restore peace in Europe and rebuild constructive relations.” Yet, Russia “unfortunately shows no signs of compromise.” Moscow called the incident a provocation Russia denied any involvement in sabotage acts in Germany. In a press release of August 8, the Russian embassy in Berlin described the incident as a “made-up provocation” and warned against a “new wave of anti-Russian hysteria in Germany.” The embassy claimed there was no evidence of Russian involvement in the incident. According to it, speculations about an attempt by Moscow to attack served primarily the interests of Ukraine and certain segments of European politics. The statement said the action aimed to justify increased financial and political support to Kyiv. On August 4, security personnel at Halle/Leipzig Airport discovered a drone loaded with explosives. It was in close proximity to a Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft used for arms transport. Investigators believe it was meant to strike the aircraft’s wings, which were filled with kerosene. However, the detonator did not function. Without it, the explosion would have had devastating consequences.

During September 1 and 2, the foreign ministers of the Twenty-Seven met to discuss the current situation of the European Union in the city of Wicklow (Ireland). The priority has once again been aid to Ukraine, which, in the words of the High Representative, Kaja Kallas, "we have to prepare Kyiv for another harsh winter." The incident with explosive drones at the Leipzig airport (Germany) was also addressed, and possible sanctions to further weaken Russia were discussed. Additionally, the possibility of stopping the issuance of visas to former combatants and Russian tourists to prevent their entry into the Schengen Area was brought to the table again. The response to the incidents in Leipzig As Digital Shield has already reported, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday morning, with both backing the information released by the German government the previous day, which attributed the August 4 Leipzig attacks to Russia. “Leipzig marks a new escalation on European soil directly attributed to Russia,” von der Leyen said. The European Union continues to consider new sanctions. In this line, Kaja Kallas pointed to more than 1,600 Russian individuals and entities that could continue to be included in the list. Additionally, during the morning, she pointed out that these incidents could be considered as "state terrorism." During her press conference, after her two days of meetings with the Twenty-Seven, which were also attended by representatives from Ukraine, Canada, Iceland, Norway, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland, she clarified that what happened in Leipzig "was not an isolated case. Since 2022 we have seen systematic attacks across Europe: sabotage, cyberattacks, espionage; they are becoming more frequent." She also assured that "we are moving with more sanctions." The Finnish Foreign Minister, Elina Valtonen, shared that Russia "is planning terrorist attacks on allied territory." For his part, her French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot, announced that the Russian ambassador in Paris will have to explain himself on the matter, while the Polish one, Radoslaw Sikorski, shared that closing Russian consulates would help hinder operations for spies, a measure that Warsaw already pushed in 2025, as also happened in Romania. Ending visas for Russian tourists According to German media, the two suspects behind the attempted explosive drone attack at the Leipzig airport are a Russian citizen with a Latvian passport and a Belarusian with dual nationality, who entered Germany thanks to a visa issued by the Italian consulate in Minsk. In light of Kaja Kallas's statements, "if these suspicions were real, this would demonstrate that visas are a tool for these people. We have to end visas. It cannot be that the country that is bombing Ukraine and killing its inhabitants; at the same time, its citizens can enter and enjoy the hospitality of European countries. It should not work that way." Kallas hopes that, if these suspicions are confirmed, the member states that still do not want to join this initiative will eventually give their final approval. So far, since June, up to a total of eleven countries have officially been known to agree while, when the last package of sanctions was approved in July, both Italy and France were against denying entry to former Russian soldiers. After the incidents in Leipzig, it seems that the number has increased considerably, and Kallas already speaks of "broad support" from the member states to tighten the issuance of visas to Russian tourists and prohibit entry to former Russian combatants. However, a qualified majority would be necessary in the Council, where countries with larger populations, such as France, Italy, or Spain, could tip the balance.

European Union foreign ministers are discussing the attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport on Wednesday after Germany formally attributed the operation to Russia and called for additional EU sanctions against those involved in hybrid activity. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on arrival at theinformal meeting of foreign ministers in Wicklow, Irelandthat Leipzig would be among the first issues considered by ministers. Kallas said the incident had “all the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism” and that the discussion would focus on what further measures European governments could take. She noted that the EU and several member states had already summoned Russian ambassadors. The meeting comes a day after the German governmentformally identified Russia as responsiblefor the attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Tuesday that Germany regarded Russia as the perpetrator of a hybrid attack and would coordinate its response closely with EU and NATO allies. A drone carrying explosives was found at the airport during the night of 4-5 August. The incident prompted Chancellor Friedrich Merz to convene Germany’s National Security Council on 7 August and led authorities to raise concern about the vulnerability of airports and other critical infrastructure to drone attacks. German officials initially avoided assigning responsibility while the investigation continued. Berlin has now concluded that the evidence is sufficient to attribute the operation to Russia. Wadephul described it as part of a wider pattern of destabilisation, sabotage, disinformation and aggression directed against European countries. Germany has responded with a series of bilateral measures. The Russian consulate-general in Bonn is to close on 18 September, the lease covering the Russian House cultural centre in Berlin will be terminated and controls on Russian nationals entering Germany will be tightened. Berlin also intends to increase pressure on Russia’s shadow fleet and strengthen intelligence activity connected with Russian operations. Wadephul said Germany would continue military and civilian support for Ukraine and further strengthen its own defence capabilities. The German government is simultaneously seeking an EU response. At Wednesday’s meeting, foreign ministers are considering further sanctions listings directed at individuals and organisations associated with Russian hybrid operations. Germany haswelcomed a broader package of measuresprepared by Kallas and wants the proposals examined rapidly with a view to their eventual adoption. Kallas said that around1,600 listings linked to Russia’s military complex are already “in the pipeline”, adding that further names could be included. The figure represents a potentially substantial expansion of the EU’s sanctions regime. It does not, however, amount to a decision by ministers on Wednesday. The Wicklow meeting is a Gymnich — the EU’s informal format for foreign ministers — and cannot formally adopt sanctions. “This is not something that we are deciding today, as it is an informal meeting,” Kallas said. “But we will definitely discuss this.” Formal sanctions would subsequently require agreement through the EU’s established decision-making procedures. The Leipzig case therefore presents Brussels with two connected questions: how to respond to an individual attack attributed to Russia inside an EU member state, and whether to widen economic and individual sanctions as Moscow continues both its war against Ukraine and operations that European governments describe as hybrid activity. Germany is seeking additional EU listings specifically connected with such attacks. At the same time, the larger group of about 1,600 proposed listings described by Kallas is aimed at Russia’s military-industrial complex rather than solely at those suspected of involvement in Leipzig. The EU has increasingly used sanctions against both categories. Previous measures have targeted Russian defence manufacturers and suppliers, while separate listings have addressed people and organisations linked to cyber attacks, sabotage, disinformation and other hybrid activity. In June, the Counciladopted another set of restrictive measurestargeting Russia’s military-industrial sector, energy revenues, shadow-fleet networks and hybrid operations. At the time, Kallas said work was also continuing on a broader sanctions package. Wednesday’s talks take place against a wider debate over European support for Ukraine. Foreign ministers from Ukraine, Britain, Canada, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland have been invited to join discussions on Russia’s war. Germany said the meeting would examine further air-defence support for Ukraine, protection of Ukrainian grain exports and preparations for the coming winter. Kallas told EU defence ministers in Wicklow on Tuesday that Ukraine remained short of interceptor missiles and urged governments holding air-defence interceptors approaching the end of their storage life to transfer them to Kyiv rather than allow them to expire. The Leipzig incident adds another element to those discussions. The focus is no longer confined to strengthening Ukraine’s defence against Russian attacks. European governments are also considering how to protect transport, energy and other critical infrastructure within the EU from operations conducted below the threshold of conventional warfare. Germany’s attribution gives that discussion a specific case around which member states can consider a collective response. Kallas indicated that the issue facing ministers in Wicklow is how far that response should go. Alongside the Leipzig case and sanctions, she said ministers would examine how the EU could increase pressure on Russia as Moscow continues its military campaign in Ukraine. No formal measures are expected from Wednesday’s informal meeting. The discussions will, however, help determine whether Germany’s national response to Leipzig is followed by another expansion of EU sanctions and a more coordinated European approach towards Russian hybrid operations. EUToday publishes articles from a variety of outside sources which express a wide range of viewpoints.Opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of EUToday.

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MORE OPTIONSAGREE Ukraine Ukrainian politics Culture of Ukraine Ukrainian reforms History of Ukraine Political prisoners Civil Society People of Ukraine Crimea International Russian Aggression Russo-Ukrainian war 2022-2026 Donbas Crimea Hybrid War Peace to Ukraine More Opinion Special projects Plus1 Rundown About About us Submit an op-ed to Euromaidan Press Contribute Job opportunities Advertising and partnership Support us Donate to Euromaidan Press Patrons, donors, and partners Support our army fundraiser Eng Esp Latest news Germany blames Moscow for Leipzig drone attack, closes consulate and cultural center among sweeping diplomatic measures One of three drones linked to the incident reportedly struck a Ukrainian Antonov without detonating. Berlin also plans tighter entry controls for Russian nationals and additional EU sanctions. 01/09/2026 !German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stands behind a lectern during a press conference. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul during a joint national security statement with Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt in Berlin on 1 September 2026, when Germany formally blamed Russia for the previous month’s attempted explosive-drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport. Source: by Tobias Schwarz/AFP via Eastnews Germany blames Moscow for Leipzig drone attack, closes consulate and cultural center among sweeping diplomatic measures An explosives-laden drone aimed at a Ukrainian cargo aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport was part of a Russian state operation, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt Germany has moved from suspecting foreign sabotage to formally blaming Russia for the Leipzig attack. The finding has prompted diplomatic and security measures against Moscow while the criminal investigation continues. Police investigations, the attack pattern, and intelligence findings established Russian responsibility, Dobrindt The first drone, carrying explosives, was Leipzig/Halle is an international freight hub Berlin will Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte Dobrindt How the Leipzig attack unfolded Euromaidan Press reported on 12 August, citing Die Zeit, that footage showed an explosives-laden quadcopter striking the wing of a parked Ukrainian Antonov An-124 before falling without detonating. The article also noted that a US Defense Department official told CNN that Washington assessed the drone belonged to Russian intelligence. On 25 August, EP reported, citing Tagesschau’s NDR/WDR/SZ investigation, that investigators had expanded the case to three drones and found the third with suspected military explosive nearby in Kabelsketal, 10 days after the original attempt. Read also Germany “not at war, but no longer at peace”: Merz About 50 grams of suspected military explosive lay in a German field 10 days after the attempt on Ukraine’s plane A bomb-laden drone hit a Ukrainian An-124 in Germany, then lay unnoticed for hours START THE DISCUSSION ON OUR FORUM To suggest a correction or clarification, write to us here You can also highlight the text and press _Ctrl + Enter_ Contact Us X Please leave your suggestions or corrections here https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/09/01/germany-russia-leipzig-drone-attack/ main Alexander Dobrindt Antonov Germany Hybrid warfare Johann Wadephul Leipzig/Halle Airport main NATO Russia Russian house Russian sabotage X !Euromaidan Press We are an independent media outlet that relies solely on advertising revenue to sustain itself. We do not endorse or promote any products or services for financial gain. Therefore, we kindly ask for your support by disabling your ad blocker. 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Germany accuses Moscow of being responsible for the incursion of explosive-laden drones at Leipzig/Halle airport in early August. Berlin announced several retaliatory measures, including the closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn and new sanctions. Germany officially accuses Russia of being behind the incident that occurred in early August at Leipzig/Halle airport, where several drones were found, at least one of which was equipped with explosives. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul announced on Tuesday that the conclusions of German security services and their European partners clearly indicate Russian involvement. "Taken as a whole, the results of the police investigation, the modus operandi, and the intelligence gathered demonstrate Russian responsibility," said Alexander Dobrindt. The German government now regards Russia as responsible for what it terms a hybrid attack in Leipzig. Since the discovery of the drones, the Interior Minister had already spoken of Foreign powers’ involvement and had talked of a "new terrorist scenario," without directly naming Moscow. According to Alexander Dobrindt, the facts demonstrate substantial expertise and resources. The minister also believes that the use of drones, explosives, and firing devices corresponds to methods already observed in other hybrid operations attributed to Russia in Europe and within the context of the war in Ukraine. Berlin announces measures against Moscow. In response, the German government announced a series of measures against Russia. The Russian General Consulate in Bonn is to be closed, and the agreement allowing the operation of the Russian House in Berlin is to be terminated. New sanctions are also planned. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also announced the summoning of the Russian ambassador. Berlin also intends to strengthen its security measures and continue its support for Ukraine. "We are not at war with Russia, but we are a war target," said Johann Wadephul, adding that Germany should expect further actions of this kind. The German foreign minister had interrupted his trip to return to Berlin to participate in the press conference alongside Alexander Dobrindt. Several drones discovered. On the night of August 4–5, an employee at Leipzig/Halle airport discovered in the security zone dedicated to freight a drone equipped with an explosive device, near several Ukrainian cargo planes from Antonov Airlines. Initial analyses revealed the presence of PETN and Semtex, two highly powerful explosives. A detonator was also found. According to elements of the investigation reported by several German media outlets, the detonator had detached, preventing the explosion. Authorities also reported the presence of a second flying object. It would have struck a cargo plane that had aborted its landing due to the runway closure. The aircraft then headed to Hanover, where light damage was observed. Investigators subsequently discovered another drone as well as explosives, reinforcing the hypothesis that several devices had been used. On August 25, Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that those responsible for the events "will have to pay for this." He also warned against aggressors ready to cause substantial property damage, or even injuries or deaths.

The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, in an archival photo – Europa Press/Contacto/Gavriil Grigorev MADRID, Sep 6 (EUROPA PRESS) - The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, stated this Sunday that Moscow’s accusations surrounding the incident at the German Leipzig airport essentially amount to "the start of a real war," before claiming that, "in essence," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz "declared war" on Russia. "In Leipzig, at the airport, they found a drone. They said it was a Russian drone, but no one bothered to investigate," he said in an interview with the news agency Vesti. "This is, for the most part, the start of a real war," he asserted. Thus, he again criticized Germany’s decision to expel the Russian consul in Bonn and to close the Russian House in Berlin. "I recall that before the start of World War II, Germans closed their diplomatic missions," he argued. The head of Russian diplomacy also emphasized that "Merz’s statements about turning Germany into the main military power in Europe are being put into practice." "In essence, he is declaring war on us. The lessons of history have not been learned," he pointed out. "It turns out that these metastases of Nazism are beginning to break through. It is a dangerous phenomenon," Lavrov said, according to the Russian news agency Interfax. "I believe Russian leaders will draw the appropriate conclusions," he concluded. Germany this week said that investigations carried out by authorities after the Leipzig incident revealed that the pattern of the attack, including the components of the devices and the technology used in their detonation, is consistent with the methods used by Moscow to carry out attacks within the framework of the war in Ukraine. In response, the Russian government urged Berlin to present "proofs" demonstrating Moscow’s involvement in the incident, a line also maintained by President Vladimir Putin, who even pointed to electoral motives on the part of the German authorities. Leipzig Airport is considered a nerve center for weapons shipments, including those related to the war in Ukraine. Since the start of the Russian invasion, there has been an increase in Germany of drone sightings and reconnaissance of critical infrastructure and military facilities.

Drone Explosive in Leipzig: What Response from the EU? The EU announced a new package of sanctions against 1,600 more people linked to the Russian military-industrial complex. It thus stands behind the German government, which on Tuesday accused Russia of being behind the explosive drone incident at Leipzig airport. Commentators wonder if the response is sufficient, and how Europe could tighten the ranks further. De Volkskrant urges Europe to raise its tone: 'Russian intimidation unfortunately works. For many Europeans, economic concerns and the fear of war weigh more heavily than the will to put an end to Putin's aggression. … While domestically, clashing political forces await the opportunity to advance Putin's demands, externally Europe does not (yet) have the means or the will to deter Russia … Looking away is an established European strategy, but the price to pay risks being multiplied later.' Merely showing unity is not enough, writes Libération, which calls on EU states to adopt concrete measures against the Russian aggressor: 'Putin's idea is to sow doubt, to divide Europeans, to boost the far right wherever it has a chance to succeed (for example in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, next weekend), to create paranoia, in short to play with fire. Until the explosion? That question is precisely part of the threat. And it explains why the response is so complicated. How to fight an enemy of the shadows without running the risk of triggering an even stronger counter-attack? That is what currently paralyzes Europeans, whose foreign ministers were meeting in Dublin on Wednesday. They all agree to condemn Russia, which is already something. But they have not yet found the right way to squash the fly (or the horsefly).' Germany cannot deter Putin alone from carrying out new attacks, writes Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: 'This enterprise requires close cooperation with EU and NATO partners and allies. The EU is negotiating today a 22nd sanctions program, which is more a sign of weakness than strength. EU members struggle when it comes to sanctioning Russia, and these difficulties are more related to internal disagreements than to Russia’s actions. Some EU states continue to buy oil and gas from Putin; frozen Russian assets are still not unlocked for Ukraine; Germany stubbornly continues to import Russian cod—the base of breaded fish it loves so much. Yet only a united Europe willing to make financial sacrifices can hope to impress Putin.' Germany must become the regional power of a 'Greater Europe,' writes political scientist Carlos Gaspar in Público: 'The separation between Russia and Germany, the growing distance between the United States and Western Europe, and the hardening of the war in Ukraine and in the Middle East have created the conditions for Germany to become a regional power. … German strategy follows the American example of a model of regional integration that hinges on deepening relations among European states and expanding Europe’s borders. The creation of a defense union is inseparable from Ukraine’s accession to European institutions, in order to create a free and united 'Greater Europe.' ' Gazeta Wyborcza believes German-Polish historical debates are unnecessary today: 'It is regrettable that part of the Polish political class has not yet grasped the seriousness of the situation and continues anti-German rhetoric, as if we were still in 2019. On the occasion of the commemorations [of the start of World War II] on the Westerplatte peninsula, on September 1st, President Karol Nawrocki invoked Weimar Republic anti-Polish policy, reopened the debate on reparations, and fanned Germanophobia — while none of this has to do with a tribute to Polish victims of the Third Reich. … Today, the line of separation in Europe — a potential front line — is not between Poland and Germany, but at the border with Russia.' On LRT, former Lithuanian ambassador to Russia Eitvydas Bajarūnas welcomes Germany’s reaction: 'For a long time Berlin showed restraint — in denouncing Russian hybrid operations as well as announcing reprisals. Germany is changing. It is on the verge of stationing a brigade in Lithuania and strengthening its army, air defense, and Baltic security, and moreover seems increasingly willing to impose political and economic sanctions in response to hybrid operations. … What’s new is not that Russia conducts a hybrid war, but that Germany is finally starting to respond differently.' Le Figaro calls to curb the warlike momentum: 'For now, war is gaining ground: Moscow is stepping up 'hybrid attacks' against Western Ukraine’s allies. … On the Ukrainian side, the threat of 'closing Russian airspace' to civilian traffic also has escalation potential. These make-shift measures in an already exhausted conflict will not be enough to break the morale of a nation. The danger of the conflict spreading is all the greater. Hence the urgency of a ceasefire, as proposed by Volodymyr Zelensky, to stop the forward push.' A reaction to Russian attacks has long been needed, argues Frankfurter Rundschau: 'It is also a signal to the European population: Russia’s threat must be taken more seriously, as the war against Ukraine may seem distant. Sanctions alone are not enough. Germany and its partners must do more to curb the effects of Russia’s hybrid warfare, which relies on sabotage and disinformation campaigns. … The EU must go further. Spain and Greece must surrender their Patriot missiles to Ukraine so the invaded country can better defend itself against attacks.' Der Tages-Anzeiger hails the German response: 'It is a measured, even prudent signal to Putin, because Berlin refrained from bringing NATO in. But it is also a prudent reaction, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz preserving the option for recourse: first Article 4, which provides for alliance consultations in case of a threat to an ally’s 'integrity' or 'security'; then, if the Russian aggressor continues provocations, NATO could activate Article 5, the mutual defense clause — we would then be not far from war in Europe. Rationally, it is not in Putin’s interest to go that far. But for a long time now, the warlord has not acted rationally.' The era of purely diplomatic responses is unfortunately over, notes De Standaard: 'Germany and its NATO allies must turn their backs on the logic that military action is the only possible response. The concept of 'hybrid defense and deterrence' can buy time by relying on diplomatic and economic sanctions and accelerated defense development. But that would destroy the little diplomacy that remained. Positions harden inevitably. There is no room left not to react.' On Facebook, journalist Serguei Aslanian ridicules the German reaction: 'Russia was vicious. It knew the German army is not online at night and that it only fights during office hours, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a noon break. Russian military actions on German soil disrupt the chancellor’s work, disrupt his staff’s activities, and prevent a measured response, prompting the government to take hasty measures. These have a significant impact on Germany’s ability to defend itself, deprive its soldiers of regulatory advantages, disrupt the work rhythm, and hinder combat training.' Russia’s various operations fit into an overarching plan, assures military expert Alexandru Grumaz in Adevărul: 'Moscow tries to strike the system that helps Ukraine continue the fight. … This is the NATO’s central problem. It is relatively easy to respond politically and militarily to a massive attack against a member state. A drone found near an airport, a suspicious fire at a factory, a damaged cable, a manipulated surveillance camera, or a saboteur recruited via Telegram are, however, much harder to deal with. Isolated incidents may have a potentially too limited impact to provoke a broader reaction. But added together, they can constitute a real campaign. That is the very essence of hybrid warfare.'

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Germany has accused Russia of carrying out a failed drone sabotage operation at Leipzig/Halle Airport and announced Tuesday it would close Russian diplomatic facilities, escalating tensions after investigators linked Moscow to last month's attack. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Russia's consulate in Bonn will be closed and the contract for the Russian House cultural center in Berlin will be terminated after German authorities concluded Moscow was behind the Aug. 4 incident. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said forensic evidence and intelligence findings tied Russia to the attack, in which authorities found a drone carrying an explosive device beside a Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport. Officials said the explosive failed to detonate because of a faulty detonator. Germany also said it believes a second drone collided with a nearby cargo aircraft, while officials have linked the incident to what Dobrindt described as Russia's "well-established pattern of Russian hybrid operations in Europe." Russia has denied the allegations. The Russian Embassy in Berlin called the accusation "absurd," while Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow would respond in a "mirror-image" fashion to Germany's actions. The embassy later described Berlin's measures as an "unprecedented escalation in Russian-German relations." In addition to closing Russian diplomatic facilities, Wadephul announced tighter entry restrictions for Russian nationals and additional measures targeting Russia's shadow fleet. He also said he had summoned Russia's ambassador to Germany, Sergei Nechayev. The announcement marks Germany's first public attribution of responsibility for the airport attack. Until now, Berlin had said only that "foreign powers" may have been involved, though U.S. media previously reported American officials believed Russia was responsible. Leipzig/Halle Airport is one of Europe's largest cargo hubs and serves as a logistics center for Germany's military and NATO allies. It is also home to Ukrainian Antonov transport aircraft, making it a strategically important hub supporting Ukraine's cargo operations. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte backed Germany's findings, writing on X that the alliance "stands in full solidarity with Germany." "The evidence is clear. And I welcome the measures announced by Germany in response," Rutte wrote. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union was preparing additional sanctions against Russia, while Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk accused Moscow of escalating tensions across the region. The developments come as Germany has warned it faces an increasing campaign of hybrid threats targeting military, transportation and critical infrastructure. Chancellor Friedrich Merz said last week those responsible for hostile acts against Germany would "pay a price." German police separately said Tuesday they were investigating improvised explosive and incendiary devices discovered at a power substation in the eastern state of Brandenburg after a damaged power line caused a temporary outage. Authorities have not identified who planted the devices.

Germany blames Russia for Leipzig airport drone attack, orders Russian consulate closed Germany's government on Tuesday blamed Russia for an attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport on 4 August using an explosive-laden drone, and announced that it would shut down a Russian consulate among other measures against Moscow. French President Emmanuel Macron said he supported the adoption of new European sanctions against Russia after the attempted drone attack. To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. The German government on Tuesday blamed Russia for an attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport last month using a drone laden with explosives, and announced that it would shut down a Russian consulate among other measures against Moscow. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen vowed "full solidarity" with Berlin in response. "NATO will continue to strengthen our ability to deter and defend all Allies against any threat – including malign actions like those seen in Leipzig and elsewhere across the Alliance," Rutte wrote on X following talks with Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Rutte said Berlin had put forward "clear" evidence of Moscow's role in the "hybrid attack" and welcomed the measures announced in response. "Russia's attempts to intimidate us, to undermine our unity and our willingness to support Ukraine are futile and will fail," he added. The European Commission president, who likewise spoke with Merz, vowed to "keep the EU united despite these escalating and serious acts". "I assured him that the EU stands in full solidarity with Germany in the face of this attack by Russia," von der Leyen wrote on X. "The German government has taken strong measures. And the message is clear: hybrid attacks will not go without a clear response," she said, adding the bloc was preparing additional sanctions against Russia. "We are united in our resolve to stand against Russian aggression. We will deter anyone who seeks to undermine our freedom and security," the commission chief wrote. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday he supported the adoption of new European sanctions against Russia after the attempted drone attack. "We must be united in support to Ukraine, France will continue to play its full part," he said in a post on X. The drone was found near a Ukrainian plane on the evening of August 4 and the device was defused. German officials said at the time that the incident posed a new level of danger. Moscow has been widely accused by Western officials of running a campaign of sabotage and disruption across Europe with the aim of undermining support for Ukraine and destabilising European nations. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said Tuesday that authorities found elements such as the drone configuration, components, explosives and detonator that are “known to us from other Russian hybrid operations and its war against Ukraine". He said that the device pointed to “a high degree of technical expertise” and painstaking planning, but that the execution of the plan appears to have been left to “low-level” agents. To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Dobrindt told reporters in Berlin that intelligence points to “people being involved who acted on behalf of Russian state entities", though he didn't specify which ones. “Taken together, the police investigations, the pattern and intelligence findings prove a Russian responsibility for the attempted attack at Leipzig airport.” Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said that “with the attempted attack in Leipzig, the Russian leadership decided deliberately to do significant damage again to our already massively burdened bilateral relationship". He said that the Russian consulate in Bonn will be closed effective September 18 and the contract under which the Russian House cultural centre in Berlin is operated will be rescinded. Germany will propose the addition of more people from Russia to European Union sanctions lists “in the context of hybrid attacks", will step up entry controls for people from Russia and “increase pressure on the shadow fleet", a reference to tankers suspected of shipping Russian oil in violation of international sanctions. The EU has sanctioned hundreds of “shadow fleet” ships. Read moreGermany arrests Ukrainian national accused of spying on defence firm Russia’s Foreign Ministry told the Interfax news agency that Moscow “would respond” to what it described as Germany’s “anti-Russian decision". Leipzig/Halle is a major hub for international freight and for providing support to Ukraine. The planes that regularly use it include Ukrainian Antonov transport aircraft. It is also home to NATO’s Strategic Airlift International Solution, or SALIS, which is currently operational almost every day in delivering equipment to NATO battle groups along its eastern flank from Finland to Romania and supporting EU and alliance nation missions. In 2024, an incendiary device ignited at a logistics centre at the airport and set fire to a freight container before it could be loaded onto a cargo plane, part of a plot that Western security officials suspect was organised by Russian intelligence. (FRANCE 24 with AP and AFP)

Germany blames Russia for airport drone incident, hits back with sanctions Berlin (AFP) – Germany on Tuesday blamed Russia for an attempted "hybrid attack" involving an explosive-laden drone at a strategic airport last month and announced diplomatic counter-measures. Issued on: Modified: The European Union expressed "full solidarity" with Germany, NATO assured that it would defend its members and countries including Britain, France and Poland offered strong backing. Germany will close Russia's consulate in the former capital Bonn later this month, and cancel the contract for the Russian House, a cultural centre in Berlin, said Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul. "We are tightening entry controls for Russian nationals" and Germany would propose the listing of more Russian individuals for European Union sanctions, he added, as the Russian ambassador to Berlin was summoned. Russia's President Vladimir Putin in televised comments later branded the sanctions move "another mistake, a serious one", saying it "clearly runs counter to the interests of the German people". The Russian embassy said in a message on Telegram that the ambassador Sergei Nechayev "rejected Berlin's accusations as unsubstantiated, absurd," and warned they would "not be without consequences". Germany's top diplomat also vowed that "we are increasing pressure on the Russian shadow fleet" -- a term for the old oil tankers and other cargo ships with opaque ownership Russia uses to get around Western sanctions. 'Low-level agents' Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said that after assessing the drone technology used and other intelligence, "the government concludes that Russia is responsible for the hybrid attack in Leipzig on August 4". He blamed "low-level agents" for the operation and said "the drone configuration -- various components, explosives and ignition systems -- are known to us from other hybrid operations by Russia and its war against Ukraine". "We do not view the Leipzig incident in isolation, but rather see it in the context of other hybrid actions," he said. "We assume that Germany is the target of further hybrid attacks by Russia." "We are not at war, but we are a daily target of hybrid warfare." European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc stands in "full solidarity" with Germany, while NATO chief Mark Rutte said the alliance "will continue to strengthen our ability to deter and defend all Allies against any threat." French President Emmanuel Macron on X said he supported fresh EU sanctions on Russia. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the attack "unacceptable" and voiced support for Germany. Sweden also summoned the Russian ambassador in Stockholm over the incident, its Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told a news conference, citing its allegiance to Germany and Ukraine. Germany, which supports Ukraine in its fight against Russia, has for months reported suspicious drone sightings over military and industrial sites, but the Leipzig incident raised the alarm as a drone found there carried explosives. Police used a robot to defuse the device near a Ukrainian cargo plane. Another drone was reportedly found weeks later near the airport, also with traces of an explosive substance. The airport in eastern Germany plays a key role in the transport of military goods, including by the German military and NATO allies, and also serves as a base for Ukraine's Antonov Airlines. 'Hub for espionage' Chancellor Friedrich Merz said last week that Germany has "found itself in the crosshairs of hybrid attackers" and warned that the perpetrators would "pay for them", without naming a target. There had been much discussion of whether Germany should shut down Berlin's Russian House, which security services believe is both a centre to spread propaganda and an intelligence hub. Conservative MP and security policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter recently told Welt TV that the facility is assumed to be a hub for espionage. He said more than 100 people lived there "with no one knowing who they are" and that the building's power consumption is unusually high. © 2026 AFP

Drone incident in Germany has ‘hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism’, EU's Kallas says Last month's incident involving an explosive-laden drone at Leipzig airport bears "all the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Wednesday. Germany has blamed Russia for the "hybrid attack". The EU has summoned the Russian envoy, and member states were doing the same, Kallas said. EU countries on Wednesday summoned Russia's envoys and discussed fresh sanctions after a drone incident in Germany that the bloc's foreign policy chief said bore the marks of "state-sponsored terrorism". The incident involving an explosive-laden drone at Leipzig airport has heightened fears over a sabotage campaign that the EU and NATO say is a Russian attempt to destabilise Ukraine's backers. "It is clear that it has all the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism," EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas said at a meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers in Ireland. "The question is, what do we do about this?" Kallas said the EU had summoned the Russian envoy, and member states were doing the same. "We will not let an act of such gravity go unpunished," France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot said, adding he had called in Russia's envoy in Paris. Kallas said that EU foreign ministers agreed to keep working on a proposal to impose sanctions on 1,600 individuals and entities linked to Russia's military industry in the hope of adopting them next month. "Seeing these hybrid attacks across Europe, I think these are also wake-up calls for the countries who have not been so strong, maybe on this," she said. "If we want to end this war, we all have to focus our efforts. Take it to a new level." Germany blamed Moscow for the Leipzig incident on Tuesday and said it was shutting a Russian consulate and ending the contract for a cultural centre in Berlin. Russia's President Vladimir Putin in televised comments later branded those moves "another mistake, a serious one", saying it "clearly runs counter to the interests of the German people". 'Live with the consequences' Germany's Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Johann Wadephul said there was a "large number of people who can now be sanctioned in addition". "Russia has escalated, Russia has carried out this hybrid attack, and now Russia must live with the consequences," he said, speaking from Ireland. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said the Leipzig incident marked "a new escalation" in Europe. "This was an attack using military-grade material carried out by Russian operatives on European Union soil," she said after talks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, adding: "We will not tolerate it." But von der Leyen also warned such incidents had become a "new normal" for Europe, as Russia steps up destabilising activities. "We do not seek conflict with Russia, but Russia seems to be at hybrid war with us," said Poland's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radoslaw Sikorski. "We are no longer in regular peacetime." While the level of rhetoric is being ramped up, some said that Europe's response has failed to match its strong words. Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs Kestutis Budrys called for more to be done to punish Moscow for its actions. "We have to consider what options we have in our hands and respond, because it is obvious Russia does not see the political cost of the hybrid activities against us," he said. Kallas said that there was "broad consensus" to continue work on a proposal to ban visas for Russians who fought in Ukraine and increase restrictions for tourists. She added without giving details, that there had also been new pledges of desperately-needed air defence missiles for Ukraine. Discussion has resurfaced on whether the bloc should tap some 200 billion euros ($235 billion) of frozen Russian central bank assets to fund Ukraine. "I think this is a fair approach to start serious discussion on how we could use immobilised frozen assets," said Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sybiga. The EU last year failed to agree a plan to employ the Russian funds, and instead came up with a 90 billion euro loan off its own back. But there is already a sense that the loan will not be enough for the two years it was intended to keep Kyiv afloat. (FRANCE 24 with AFP)

After the drone attack in Germany, Russia and NATO come uncomfortably close to the “red line” Berlin accuses Moscow of a drone attack on Leipzig Airport, a strategic site for NATO and support to Ukraine. An episode that raises fears of a new escalation between Russia and NATO. Since Tuesday, September 1, Russia and NATO have decided to come very close to the famous “red line” that must not be crossed, the one that could lead to war. The topic is so serious that it took several weeks to know: the Germans decided to hold Russia responsible for a hybrid drone attack that occurred on their territory. A message addressed to Europe The events date back to the beginning of August 2026 and went somewhat under the radar at the time. A drone laden with explosives attacked Leipzig Airport in Germany, a strategic site that is also a key platform for the German army, NATO, and logistical support to Ukraine. At the time, attention was mainly focused on Latvia, where NATO fighter jets had shot down a drone in Latvian airspace near the Russian border. But apparently that was not the place to look, since the most serious affair was unfolding, at the same time in Germany. The target chosen by the Russians was symbolic, as it serves as a transit point for delivering military aid to Ukraine. The Russia’s message to Europe was clear: you must stop helping Kyiv. Tension rises a notch The reason for the long delay before Germany’s reaction is that the Germans and NATO had to check twice before accusing Russia. It must be kept in mind that we are at the brink of declaring war. Then, Germany is not a small country like Latvia. Along with France, the country forms the heart of Europe. It is easy to imagine that the pressure truly rose a notch. This is not about a drone that wandered into a field in Romania or Poland, as has happened before. It is, in fact, a drone loaded with explosives that came directly to taunt NATO. One fact has become clearer: the late-August visit of CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Moscow, which surprised everyone. Again, eyes were pointed in the wrong direction. His presence was justified by the fact that Vladimir Putin wished to attack one of the Baltic states, whereas, probably, it was about discussing the Russian drone affair in Germany. Diplomatic retaliation In response, Germany announced the closure of a Russian consulate in Bonn and a cultural center in Berlin. NATO also recalled that it stood beside the Germans and would remain faithful to its mission of defending its members. Sweden, in solidarity with Germany, summoned the Russian ambassador to demand explanations. France, for its part, continues to support adopting new European sanctions against Russia. While Moscow said it was offended, we remain therefore in the realm of diplomatic response, with a question left hanging: what lessons have the two sides drawn from this provocative episode? Shorts - A boss speeds toward striking workers with a bus - Chevaline massacre: the investigation relaunched? - Record costs for the start of the school year - Fatal accident on a tethered buoy in the Mediterranean - Nepal: a school principal saves 1,634 students from deadly floods - Patrick Bruel: the singer cancels his tour - Veil ban: Gabriel Attal “in disagreement with the RN proposal” - Clémence Guetté (LFI) pleads for granting rights to friendship - Tethered buoy: fatal accident in the Mediterranean - Second-hand to prepare the return to school at Emmaüs - Bringing net salary closer to gross: possible or not? - Patrick Bruel cancels his tour - “Rethinking vacations to change school rhythms” - Apartments for rent: the great shortage - Teens who receive the most pocket money are... - Arthur Fils still falls in Grand Slam - Victims of pheromonalophobia begin a hunger strike - What the frigates sold to Sweden look like - Stricter oversight for work stoppages - Chevaline massacre: was a weapon found? - Here, the phone is prohibited for the second year - Heat: up to 37 °C at the end of the week - “Before 15, social networks are not good” - The RN wants to sanction wearing the veil - Nepal: a school principal saves all the children - Summer 2026 is the hottest ever recorded in France - Why is gas price still soaring - A pro-excision campaign causes controversy in Mali - Deadly torrent in the Grand Canyon - Former prime minister Edouard Balladur dies at 97

EU to Work on Additional Sanctions Against Russian Individuals, Germany Declares Germany and EU Intensify Sanctions and Response to Russian Actions EU's Commitment to Further Sanctions BERLIN, Sept 2 (Reuters) - German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Wednesday that the European Union will work on imposing further sanctions on Russian individuals in the coming weeks. Statements from German Foreign Minister "The EU has imposed extensive sanctions on Russia, but we will certainly continue to work on imposing sanctions on individuals in the coming weeks," he said on the sidelines of an EU meeting in Ireland. Pressure on Russia and Support for Ukraine "Pressure on Russia is being stepped up and support for Ukraine also remains at a high level. That is the unity we are demonstrating at this time," he said. Context: Recent Developments and German Government Actions The top diplomat's comments come after the German government said on Tuesday that Russia was responsible for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle airport last month and that it ordered a series of measures in response. Reporting and Editorial Credits (Reporting by Alexander Ratz, writing by Linda Pasquini, editing by Thomas Seythal and Ludwig Burger)

EU’s Kallas: Leipzig Attack Shows State-Sponsored Terrorism Signs, Calls for More Sanctions European Leaders Respond to Leipzig Attack and Russian Aggression By Padraic Halpin and Conor Humphries Leipzig Attack and Accusations of State-Sponsored Terrorism WICKLOW, Ireland, Sept 2 (Reuters) - The attempted attack in Leipzig had all the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism, the European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Wednesday, adding that Europe needs to coordinate on what more can be done given the escalation of Russia's attacks on Ukraine. The German government said on Tuesday that it had concluded that Russia was responsible for the attempted drone attack last month. Sanctions and Pressure on Russia Ongoing and Potential New Sanctions Speaking ahead of an informal gathering of European foreign ministers in Ireland, Kallas also said that work is ongoing on 1,600 sanctions listings related to Russia's military complex and "maybe there are more to be added". Ministers arriving at the meeting said the bloc needs to look for more ways to put pressure on Moscow. Calls for Stronger Measures "I think we need to now really explore all the options on the table in terms of tightening the sanctions," Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen told reporters. Lithuania's Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said Europeans need to consider their options and respond. "It is obvious Russia does not see the political cost of its hybrid activities against us. So for them, this is the cheap way to make tensions in our society," he said, adding that "our goal is to show that these activities will neither intimidate us nor prevent us from supporting Ukraine and maintaining our pressure on Russia". German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said the EU will work on imposing further sanctions on Russian individuals in the coming weeks. "Pressure on Russia is being stepped up and support for Ukraine also remains at a high level. That is the unity we are demonstrating at this time," he said. 'Close the Ukrainian Sky': Security and Defense Concerns 'CLOSE THE UKRAINIAN SKY' Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told reporters that Ukrainians are suffering daily attacks and that Kyiv is working with European countries who have interceptors in storage. "I hope that we will have additional strong decisions to close the Ukrainian sky," he said. Regional Risks and Responses Some European ministers pointed to risks stemming from Russia's activities following the Leipzig incident. "We are lucky that nothing happened, but we see what happened in Romania, what happened in so many countries," Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel said when arriving for the talks. "We see that there is no will from the Russian side to de-escalate. It’s my neighbouring country so the danger is coming closer," he added. Romania has reported repeated breaches of its airspace by Russian drones over the past four years, as well as mines floating in the Black Sea across key trade and energy routes. Debate Over Use of Frozen Russian Assets The Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden called last week for the EU to reopen discussion on using Russia's frozen assets, an idea some ministers reiterated on Wednesday. But it remained unclear whether Europe would once again seriously consider using the frozen assets. EU countries immobilised some €210 billion of Russian central bank assets after Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Around €185 billion of this is held in Brussels-based central securities depository Euroclear. The European Commission proposed last year to use Russian cash for a loan to Ukraine, but Belgium rejected the plan, saying it did not provide sufficient guarantees that it would not be left alone to deal with potential lawsuits and demands of damages from Russia. Reporting Credits (Reporting by Padraic Halpin and Conor Humphries in Wicklow, Lili Bayer in Brussels, Charlotte Van Campenhout in Amsterdam, Stine Jacobsen in Copenhagen, Alexander Ratz in Berlin and Anna Pruchnicka in Gdansk; Writing by Lili Bayer; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)

Early August, a drone loaded with explosives was discovered and defused on the tarmac of Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany, near Ukrainian cargo planes. Berlin officially accuses Russia of being behind this attempted attack. In response, Germany announced the closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn and the Russian House cultural center in Berlin, triggering a serious diplomatic crisis. How could a simple drone spark such a diplomatic storm? The answer lies in the target’s nature and the conclusions of the German investigators. Leipzig Airport is not an ordinary platform, as it serves as a hub for NATO military equipment transport and for aircraft from the Ukrainian company Antonov Airlines. Targeting this site is a direct attack on Ukraine’s support logistics. German authorities say they possess irrefutable evidence, based on analysis of the equipment and intelligence, that traces a direct line to Russian state entities. They view it as a maneuver that fits into a “well-established pattern of Russian hybrid operations.” This accusation completely changes the incident’s perception. From an act of sabotage, it becomes a much graver offense: an undeclared act of war on the soil of an NATO member country. The discovery of a second drone that allegedly struck an aircraft and a third device ten days later only deepens the mystery and strengthens the theory of a planned operation. For Berlin, Moscow’s message is a barely veiled warning: supporting Kiev has a price that can be paid directly on German soil. This escalation forces Germany to step out of its usual restraint. What evidence is Germany presenting to accuse Russia? Berlin bases its accusation on a converging set of technical indicators and intelligence. According to the Interior Minister, the configuration of the explosive drone, its components, the type of explosive used, and the detonator mechanism are technical signatures already observed in other operations attributed to Moscow, notably on the Ukrainian theater. This “high technical expertise” in the craft of the device contrasts with an execution apparently entrusted to low-level agents, which is typical of hybrid warfare methods. These material proofs are corroborated by intelligence service information involving agents acting “on behalf of entities of the Russian state.” Faced with these elements, Russia denies everything; President Vladimir Putin accuses Germany of having “fabricated” the evidence to serve its internal political interests. Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, called the allegations “absurd” and promised a mirrored response to the German measures. It’s therefore a case of one side’s word against another, but one backed by unwavering support from NATO and EU allies, who deem the German evidence sufficiently solid to justify a firm and coordinated reaction. What are the concrete consequences of this affair for Russo-European relations? Germany’s response was immediate and symbolically strong, signaling a rupture. It involves closing the Russian Consulate General in Bonn and terminating the contract of the “Russian House” in Berlin, a cultural center long suspected of being a hub for espionage. Moreover, Berlin will tighten entry controls for Russian nationals and push for new sanctions at the European Union level, particularly against the phantom fleet of Russian tankers. These measures aim to dismantle influence infrastructures and strike the Russian economy. This German firmness was quickly supported by its partners. NATO and the European Commission voiced “full solidarity.” EU foreign affairs chief Catherine (Kaja) Kallas went further, describing the Leipzig airport incident as an act of “state terrorism.” The case thus triggers a new wave of sanctions and a tightening of Western ranks in response to what is seen as a direct aggression, risking a shift in relations, already icy, into a new era of open confrontation.

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov attended a G20 meeting in person for the first time since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, drawing objections from European officials. Siluanov joined finance ministers and central bank governors in Asheville, North Carolina, on Aug. 31 after the United States, this year’s G20 host, invited him to the meeting. Polish Finance Minister Andrzej Domański said he was unhappy to see Russia represented, although he acknowledged the host’s right to determine the guest list. “We do not trust Russia. They lie constantly and you need to be really, really cautious while discussing with them,” he told Reuters. German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil called Siluanov’s attendance “quite troubling,” noting that Europe was preparing another sanctions package against Russia. He said Washington should have made clear that the Russian minister would not be received as a normal guest. European officials also refused to join the traditional group photograph alongside Siluanov. The picture was eventually taken without him. Siluanov held bilateral talks with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on the sidelines of the meeting. Russia’s Finance Ministry said they discussed financial cooperation and coordination within the G20. A U.S. official said the talks focused on President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine. A source familiar with the meeting told Reuters that Bessent made clear no economic relief for Russia or agreements on other issues would be possible until the war ended. Siluanov’s appearance contrasted with April 2022, when his virtual participation in a G20 finance meeting in Washington prompted officials from the United States, Britain, Canada and the European Central Bank to walk out as Russian representatives spoke.

Newtownmountkennedy (Ireland), Sep 2 (EFE) - The European Union (EU) foreign ministers on Wednesday expressed solidarity with Germany after attributing to Russia the hybrid drone attack at an airport in the city of Leipzig on August 4, and said they are already preparing new sanctions against Moscow in response. "It is clear that it has all the characteristics of state-supported terrorism (...). We have already summoned the Russian ambassadors, as have many member states, and we will discuss what more we can do," said the EU foreign policy chief, Catherine (Kaja) Kallas, upon her arrival at the semestral informal meeting of European ministers. Specifically, she noted that they are processing the inclusion of 1,600 names related to Russia’s military complex on the sanctions list, and hinted that "there may be more to add," although she made clear that nothing will be finalized at this informal meeting. For Kallas, the "hybrid attacks across Europe" are a "wake-up call for countries that have not shown as much resolve in this regard." Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, whose country chairs the EU Council this semester, agreed that they are working on new sanctions against "more than 1,600 Russian individuals and entities" and that they are studying what else they can do. He expressed solidarity with Germany, but also with Estonia, Romania, Latvia, Poland and other countries that have suffered drone incursions in recent months: "We are no longer talking about mere hybrid threats, but about significant activity," he said. "I do not think we should tolerate Russia’s threats. I believe our stance is clear: we are absolutely united in the face of what are very evident and flagrant attacks against international law and in European territory," he emphasized. French President (Minister) Jean-Noël Barrot stated "full solidarity" with Germany and noted that he has summoned the Russian chargé d’affaires in Paris to "protest forcefully about the indications provided to us by our German friends, which are well-founded and demonstrate that there was an intention to sabotage this airplane and this logistical base that Germany and Europe have used to support Ukraine" in Leipzig. He said the move is an attempt by the Kremlin to "destabilize the European Union, its democratic processes, but also, obviously, its support for Ukraine." He announced he would back the sanction proposals put forward by Germany, and France would add restrictive measures against a number of ships of what is called Russia’s ghost fleet. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said the EU should, "above all, impose sanctions on Russian companies and individuals fueling Vladimir Putin’s war machine." "And there is a proposal that only requires political approval to implement, directed at about 1,619 companies and individuals (...). And we should approve it as a response to Putin’s attacks on Germany and other countries," he stated. Sikorski also advocated "making it harder for Russian diplomats and spies to operate across Europe" by closing consulates—he said he has closed all Russian consulates in Poland—while also insisting that Russian citizens use biometric passports or that their diplomats be unable to leave the country where they are accredited. "We are no longer in times of normal peace. Hybrid war is not just an online nuisance. Hybrid war involves assassination squads, arson, attacks on moving trains—like in Poland—and violations of airspace with drones and cruise missiles. We must convince Putin that such actions come with a price," he warned. For Lithuanian Minister Kestutis Budrys, "Russia’s hybrid attacks against us are no longer hybrid; they are very aggressive," and he considered that Russia "is not aware of the political cost of its hybrid activities against us." "For them, it is the cheapest way to generate tensions in our society. Therefore, our goal is to prove that these activities will neither intimidate us nor prevent us from supporting Ukraine and maintaining pressure on Russia," he stressed. Latvian minister Baiba Braze went further, saying it is necessary to "modify the sanction packages": "We need a more dynamic and rapid acceptance of those ecosystems that are ready to be sanctioned, such as Russia’s missile ecosystem or its payment ecosystem," she indicated. She added that any formulation by the EU Council of ministers "can do so in its respective field," and she hoped that by mid-September the list of individual sanctions could be expanded. Swedish minister Maria Malmer Stenergard recalled that her country, together with Spain, Poland, and the Netherlands, has proposed revisiting the use of frozen Russian assets under sanctions. EFE

Germany has officially accused Russia of being behind the attempt to attack with drones loaded with explosives recorded on August 4 at the Leipzig/Halle airport, an episode Berlin considers part of a Russian hybrid warfare campaign against Europe. The accusation, issued this Tuesday by German Interior and Foreign Ministers, Alexander Dobrindt and Johann Wadephul, comes after nearly a month of investigations and has provoked a swift reaction from the European Union and NATO. The German attribution also coincides with the informal meeting of EU defense ministers held in Wicklow, Ireland, on August 31 and September 1. Although the Leipzig incident was not on the specific agenda—sessions focused on Ukraine, space, and other security matters—the issue of Russian hybrid threats was present in the statements of European officials. The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, or actually Kaja Kallas (the user’s text says Kaja Kallas, but she is the EU Commissioner for something; in the Spanish text it says Kaja Kallas, the Estonian politician who is EU foreign policy chief), stated after the meeting that Russia is striking Europe through a wave of increasingly kinetic hybrid attacks aimed at intimidating European countries and making them abandon their support for Ukraine. “They will not succeed,” she argued, while advocating increased military aid to Ukraine and greater European defense investments. For Kallas, the problem goes beyond the German case. The European official noted that Europe is being subjected to a campaign that combines conventional operations in Ukraine with hybrid actions on European territory. The EU is also preparing a new sanction package against Russia and is working on a high-level political and military group to study how to strengthen European capabilities against these threats. The incident occurred during the night of August 4–5. According to the Leipzig Police, just before midnight an unidentified aerial object was detected near the airport, forcing air traffic to be halted and several flights diverted. In the southern part of the runway, another object was found, initially examined by the German Federal Police with the help of a bomb-disposal robot. The Saxony authorities confirmed the next day that it was a unmanned aircraft with a device suspected of containing explosives. The investigation was handed to the Dresden Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Saxony Criminal Investigation Office, with participation from German agencies specialized in terrorism, extremism, and hybrid threats. Leipzig/Halle airport is militarily significant because it functions as an important logistics and cargo transportation infrastructure. The unmanned aircraft was found in a cargo operations area near the southern runway and Ukrainian transport aircraft. In the early days, Berlin avoided attributing responsibility. On August 5, the German government only confirmed the discovery of the aircraft and stressed that the investigation remained open. By August 10, the official position remained that the case was under investigation by the German Attorney General and that all hypotheses were being studied. The episode’s significance led the German National Security Council to meet by telephone on August 7 under Chancellor Friedrich Merz to discuss what happened. The investigation gained new elements throughout August. According to information obtained by German media, investigators later located components of another unmanned aircraft, including an engine and a rotor, during a new search near the airport on August 11. There were also indications of a possible explosion in the Kursdorf area, north of the airport facilities. On August 25 the discovery of a third unmanned aircraft and remains that could correspond to a military explosive was also reported. Investigations pointed to an attack aimed at Ukrainian cargo aircraft stationed at Leipzig/Halle, though during August German authorities did not publicly confirm who was behind the operation. The case thus took on a dimension greater than a mere drone incursion over an airport. The German investigators studied the possibility that this was a planned operation, with technical means and logistical support, and the case began to be treated as a possible act of sabotage against critical infrastructure. The German government itself later described the incident as a “new dimension” of the threat. In its assessment of hybrid attacks, Berlin notes that the finding of a cargo aircraft loaded with explosives in Leipzig proves Germany is increasingly exposed to sabotage, drone attacks, and other forms of hybrid activity. The shift in position occurred on September 1. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that police investigations, observed operational patterns, and intelligence service information made it possible to establish Russian responsibility for the attempted attack. “The federal government concludes that Russia is responsible for the hybrid attack carried out in Leipzig on August 4,” Dobrindt said. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul placed the incident within a broader campaign of destabilization, disinformation, threats, sabotage, and aggression against Europe. According to the German government, Russia has adopted an openly hostile attitude toward Germany, and the Leipzig attack represents a new escalation of the confrontation. Germany’s response will not be limited to a diplomatic protest. Berlin announced the closure of the Russian General Consulate in Bonn starting September 18, the termination of the Russian House cultural center contract in Berlin, stricter entry controls for Russian citizens, and new European sanctions proposals against people linked to Russian hybrid operations. Germany also announced that it would increase pressure on the so‑called Russian “phantom fleet” and adopt new measures in the intelligence services sphere. At the same time, Wadephul emphasized that Berlin will continue to strengthen its defense capabilities and its military and civilian support for Ukraine. The German attribution received a rapid response from NATO. Its Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, conveyed to Chancellor Merz the Alliance’s “full solidarity” and said that the organization will continue to strengthen its capacity to deter and defend all of its allies against any threat, including the malicious actions observed in Leipzig and other parts of the allied territory. NATO’s response is militarily significant because it places the incident within the broader issue of collective defense against hybrid activities. NATO has been strengthening in recent years its mechanisms to respond to sabotage, cyberattacks, interference, influence operations, and other actions below the threshold of a conventional armed conflict. The NATO Deputy Secretary General, Mircea Geoană, also participated in the discussions with EU defense ministers in Ireland. In her remarks, she stressed that Russia continues to show no willingness to end the war against Ukraine and urged maintaining pressure on Moscow while increasing military support to Kyiv, especially in air defense. Berlin, for its part, plans to relay its conclusions to NATO allies. The German government has insisted that it is coordinating its response with both the Alliance and the EU and that it has the solidarity of its partners. The European reaction was also strong. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen voiced the EU’s “full solidarity” with Germany and said that the Union will remain united in the face of incidents it considers increasingly serious. She also indicated she would address the matter with Stoltenberg in their meeting planned for this Wednesday, focusing on strengthening EU-NATO cooperation in response to the rise of hybrid threats. Kallas was even more explicit during the defense ministers’ meeting in Ireland. The European foreign policy chief stated that Russia is carrying out a wave of hybrid attacks that are becoming increasingly physical against Europe, with the aim of intimidating member countries and reducing their willingness to continue helping Ukraine. “Russia is striking Europe with a wave of hybrid attacks that are becoming increasingly kinetic,” Kallas said, adding that these actions will not achieve their objective. Ireland’s Defense Minister, Helen McEntee, agreed that the threat is no longer purely potential. She noted that several European countries, including Romania, Latvia, and Estonia, have reported hybrid- related incidents and violations of their airspace or territory to their partners. For Ireland, the situation reinforces the need to increase cooperation among allies and partners and to raise defense spending. Russia has categorically rejected the German attribution. The Russian Embassy in Berlin called the accusations “absurd” provocations and unfounded, and asserted that measures taken by Germany represent an unprecedented escalation in bilateral relations. Moscow has also warned that it will respond to the “anti-Russian” measures adopted by Berlin and has demanded proof of Russia’s responsibility. The Kremlin has denied any involvement in the incident. Russia’s stance contrasts with Berlin’s, which in August precisely avoided publicly attributing the attack until, according to the German government, there were sufficient elements from police and intelligence investigations. From a military perspective, the Leipzig case’s main consequence does not lie only in the attempt to attack a Ukrainian aircraft. The episode demonstrates the vulnerability of Europe’s critical infrastructure to small, cheap, and hard-to-detect unmanned systems, especially when used as vectors for sabotage. The German government itself acknowledged after the incident that Leipzig/Halle airport did not then have a permanent drone defense system under the responsibility of the Federal Police and that mobile capabilities had to be deployed. Since then, Berlin has prioritized protecting major airports in its defense against drones. The issue also goes beyond the physical protection of a facility. The combination of drones, explosives, prior intelligence, possible use of agents, and influence operations fits the hybrid warfare model that Germany, the EU, and NATO consider increasingly relevant for European security. Therefore, the Leipzig case has become a new reference point in the European debate about defense against threats below the threshold of conventional war. Berlin maintains that Russia has taken a further step with this attack; Brussels and NATO consider it part of a growing hybrid pressure against Europe. The response they choose in the coming weeks will determine to what extent such actions receive a coordinated response within European security and defense structures.

And we always see our news on Google Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Germany's accusations about Moscow's involvement in a drone attack attempt on the Leipzig/Halle airport represent "in general terms, the beginning of a real war." The statement came after Berlin announced on September 1 that Russia could have been behind the incident that occurred last month. Lavrov accused German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of implementing plans to transform Germany into the leading military power in Europe and said that the German leader "is practically declaring war on us." The Berlin government ordered measures against Russia, including the closure of a consulate and a Russian cultural center in the capital. Moscow rejected the accusations, calling them unfounded and arguing that German authorities would have planted evidence to attribute responsibility to Russia. The Russian embassy called the accusations a baseless provocation. As a retaliatory measure, Moscow announced the closure of Goethe-Institut centers in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg.

Germany’s power grid was hit twice in a single day on Tuesday, with incidents on opposite sides of the country knocking units of coal-fired power plants offline and authorities investigating possible terrorist or extremist motives. The latest incident occurred in the industrial heartland surrounding the Rhine river on Tuesday evening, shutting off five units of RWE AG’s lignite-fired power plants with a combined capacity of 4.2 gigawatts. Earlier that morning, unknown perpetrators damaged several transmission lines in eastern Germany using homemade projectiles, triggering a temporary outage at LEAG’s Jänschwalde coal plant. Germany has faced several attacks on its energy infrastructure this year, including a major arson attack in Berlin that caused a widespread blackout. While the attackers behind the latest events remain unknown, Germany is on high alert following a failed drone attack at Leipzig airport, which authorities have blamed on Russia. Authorities are examining whether the two events in the west and east are connected, said Herbert Reul, the interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, in a press conference on Wednesday. Investigators for the west German attack are exploring two possible motives — foreign state-directed sabotage and far-left extremism — while police in the eastern state of Brandenburg have opened an investigation that includes suspicion of forming a terrorist organization. Grid operator Amprion said the incident on Tuesday evening occurred near its substation in Rommerskirchen in the Rhineland. It added that general power supply was not affected at any time and system stability was guaranteed. RWE said the five lignite-fired power plant units included Neurath G and F and Niederaußem H, G and K. Most had been feeding electricity into the grid at the time of the incident. RWE said it will reconnect most of the units, with a combined capacity of 2.6 gigawatts, on Wednesday, and the remaining 1.6 gigawatts is expected to return over the weekend. The local Essen police force said it was operating on the assumption of “a deliberate act, a criminal offense.” Countries across Europe are racing to harden power grids against sabotage, cyberattacks and military threats. The push follows Russia’s repeated attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and a series of sabotage incidents across Europe. Read more: Germany Blames Russia for Attempted Drone Attack, Expects More The German economy ministry declined to comment on details of the two incidents, but said “acts of sabotage against critical infrastructure pose a serious threat.” Russia’s war of aggression, the rise in acts of sabotage targeting the economy and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events make it clear that Germany be better prepared with regard to critical infrastructure, a spokesperson added. According to Talha Torlak, who leads short-term power trading at Vitus Commodities, there was a “very extreme deficit” on Tuesday evening between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. after RWE’s lignite units went offline. That pushed preliminary imbalance prices — the cost of correcting unexpected gaps between electricity supply and demand — to €5,000 per megawatt-hour. After 9 p.m. the system quickly stabilized, he said. “The grid handled the incident well,” said Leonhard Gandhi, a researcher at Fraunhofer Institute, adding that the situation would only become critical if several such attacks occurred simultaneously or targeted central grid nodes. “That is why the attempted sabotage that same morning near Jänschwalde is the truly alarming news,” he said. Photograph: Germany has faced several attacks on its energy infrastructure this year; photo credit: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg Topics Germany Was this article valuable? Here are more articles you may enjoy.

Germany’s government said an investigation found that Russia is behind a failed drone attack at an airport in Leipzig last month and that the Kremlin is likely to step up hybrid aggression. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul announced the shuttering of Russia’s consulate in Bonn, the former seat of government of West Germany, this month and the cancellation of a contract with a key Russian cultural center in Berlin. The country will tighten border controls for Russian nationals. The activity on German soil indicates a readiness by Moscow to inflict “greater damage,” Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said. Read more: Russia’s Escalating Hybrid Attacks Put Europeans in a Bind “Russia shows no willingness to reach an understanding,” Wadephul told reporters in Berlin. “On the contrary: with the attempted attack in Leipzig, the Russian leadership has deliberately chosen to inflict further significant damage on our already severely strained bilateral relationship.” The move by German authorities marks a significant deterioration in relations between Berlin and Moscow more than four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Chancellor Friedrich Merz had said last week that the attempted drone attack on the logistics hub for deliveries to Ukraine represented a new level of hybrid warfare — and perpetrators “will pay a price.” Germany will get “a fitting response” to its decisions on closing Russian facilities, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told the state-run Tass news service. “Under a completely far-fetched and contrived pretext, Berlin has once again escalated bilateral relations,” Zakharova said. “As usual, no convincing or serious evidence has been presented. There simply isn’t any.” Authorities in Berlin had stopped short of pointing the finger at Russia as the investigation proceeded and as talks with European Union officials took place to forge a response. Wadephul said EU authorities are developing a new list of individuals to be targeted by sanctions. Germany is determined to continue and expand its military support for Ukraine, especially in areas where it hurts Russia the most, including more interceptor missiles and strike drones for Ukraine, senior officials said in Berlin on condition of anonymity in line with government protocol. The failed attack at Leipzig-Halle airport forced the hub to divert several aircraft after a drone laden with explosives was found near a Ukrainian cargo plane. Investigators identified three drones at the airport: the first hit the wing of the plane, while two others were found in nearby fields, the officials said. The drone’s configuration, parts and the type of explosive — as well as the expertise behind the planning — indicated Russian involvement, Dobrindt said. Read more: German DHL Cargo Plane Hits Object as Drone Found at Leipzig Airport The drone incident, together with an ongoing investigation into the possible link between foreign security agents and a cache of weapons found on the outskirts of Berlin last year, have put Europe’s biggest economy on high alert. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed solidarity, saying the evidence that Germany presented was “clear.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen issued a similar statement, signaling bloc-wide coordination. “Russia is seeking to sow distrust and fear among our societies,” von der Leyen said on X. “But it will fail. And we still stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes.” There have been an increasing number of alleged Kremlin provocations in Europe involving drones, explosions and damaged undersea cables. On Tuesday, in a separate incident, the sabotage of electricity infrastructure in eastern Germany caused a brief disruption to the transmission network as well as a power-plant outage. Unknown perpetrators damaged several lines. Photograph: Police investigators work on the tarmac at Leipzig-Halle Airport on Aug. 5, 2026; photo credit: Jens Schlueter/Getty Images Related: - Germany Says Weapons Cache Points to Hybrid Attack Plans - Germany Sees Russian Covert Attacks as Prelude to Wider Conflict Was this article valuable? Here are more articles you may enjoy.

Germany has accused Russia of carrying out a failed drone sabotage operation at Leipzig/Halle Airport and announced Tuesday it would close Russian diplomatic facilities, escalating tensions after investigators linked Moscow to last month’s attack. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Russia’s consulate in Bonn will be closed and the contract for the Russian House cultural center in Berlin will be terminated after German authorities concluded Moscow was behind the Aug. 4 incident. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said forensic evidence and intelligence findings tied Russia to the attack, in which authorities found a drone carrying an explosive device beside a Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport. Officials said the explosive failed to detonate because of a faulty detonator. Germany also said it believes a second drone collided with a nearby cargo aircraft, while officials have linked the incident to what Dobrindt described as Russia’s “well-established pattern of Russian hybrid operations in Europe.” Russia has denied the allegations. The Russian Embassy in Berlin called the accusation “absurd,” while Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow would respond in a “mirror-image” fashion to Germany’s actions. The embassy later described Berlin’s measures as an “unprecedented escalation in Russian-German relations.” In addition to closing Russian diplomatic facilities, Wadephul announced tighter entry restrictions for Russian nationals and additional measures targeting Russia’s shadow fleet. He also said he had summoned Russia’s ambassador to Germany, Sergei Nechayev. The announcement marks Germany’s first public attribution of responsibility for the airport attack. Until now, Berlin had said only that “foreign powers” may have been involved, though U.S. media previously reported American officials believed Russia was responsible. Leipzig/Halle Airport is one of Europe’s largest cargo hubs and serves as a logistics center for Germany’s military and NATO allies. It is also home to Ukrainian Antonov transport aircraft, making it a strategically important hub supporting Ukraine’s cargo operations. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte backed Germany’s findings, writing on X that the alliance “stands in full solidarity with Germany.” “The evidence is clear. And I welcome the measures announced by Germany in response,” Rutte wrote. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union was preparing additional sanctions against Russia, while Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk accused Moscow of escalating tensions across the region. The developments come as Germany has warned it faces an increasing campaign of hybrid threats targeting military, transportation and critical infrastructure. Chancellor Friedrich Merz said last week those responsible for hostile acts against Germany would “pay a price.” German police separately said Tuesday they were investigating improvised explosive and incendiary devices discovered at a power substation in the eastern state of Brandenburg after a damaged power line caused a temporary outage. Authorities have not identified who planted the devices.

The EU said it would increase pressure on Russia, including through new sanctions, after two suspects were identified in an alleged Russian explosive-drone “hybrid attack” at Leipzig Halle Airport in Germany. According to Reuters and several German media reports published on Wednesday, Sept. 2, investigators identified a Belarusian national holding a Russian passport and a Russian-born man with Latvian citizenship as suspects in the August incident at the eastern German airport, a major cargo hub used for both NATO and Ukrainian logistics. “If Russia thinks we will be divided by the threat, or if they think we will be deterred from supporting Ukraine, they are mistaken,” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said in Brussels, following a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday. What happened at Leipzig Halle Airport? On Aug. 4, airport workers found an explosive-laden drone and a detonator in a secure cargo area, near a Ukrainian Antonov An-124 plane. The two men were reportedly identified through DNA traces recovered from the drone, a container holding explosives and an antenna attached to a tree. The Belarusian suspect allegedly entered the Schengen area on an Italian tourist visa issued in Minsk, while the Russian-born Latvian citizen allegedly coordinated logistics and instructed participants in the operation. The dual national reportedly arrived in Berlin in late July, rented a car and traveled toward Leipzig before leaving Germany two days before the attempted attack. Germany’s response to Moscow The German government blamed Russia for the hybrid attack on Tuesday, Sept. 1, saying it employed “low-level agents” for the campaign. Around the same time, the country announced the closing of the Russian consulate in Bonn, a city in western Germany, and terminated its agreement governing the Russian House cultural center in Berlin. Separately, Reuters reported Wednesday that Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned Germany’s charge d’affaires in Moscow, while rejecting Berlin’s accusations as “entirely fabricated.” “Berlin has deliberately engaged in a blatant provocation aimed at escalating tensions in Russian-German relations. The German authorities’ actions will be met with a firm response,” the ministry said in a statement. Russian President Vladimir Putin had also rejected the allegations, claiming that Germany had planted evidence to frame Moscow and was attempting to divert attention from domestic political problems. Following Germany’s accusation, Russia’s top security official and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev threatened the country with a “direct strike” on its military production facilities and hinted that targets in Berlin could also be attacked. Medvedev also escalated his threats against Western officials supporting Ukraine, calling President Volodymyr Zelensky’s warnings to foreign airlines a “declaration by the Banderite regime of state terrorism.” Meanwhile, Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which is leading polls before this weekend’s state elections, has called for closer ties with Moscow. Lawmaker Alexander Throm, an interior policy expert from Germany’s ruling conservatives, told Reuters that “the clear goal [of the incident] is to unsettle the public.” “Of course, that is a goal shared not only by Russia but also by others, such as left-wing extremists,” he continued. EU to increase pressure on Russia Von der Leyen said Europe and NATO would not only maintain, but also increase the pressure on Moscow until Russia stopped its attacks against Ukraine altogether. “We will increase it, and we will not stop – not until Russia stops bombing and killing innocent children, men and women,” Von der Leyen said. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc was considering measures targeting Russia’s military complex, while France called for action against the Russian “shadow fleet” accused of helping evade energy sanctions, Reuters reported. The Leipzig Halle case came as German authorities opened separate investigations into suspected sabotage at electricity infrastructure in North Rhine-Westphalia and Brandenburg. The incidents disrupted lignite power-generation units with a combined capacity of 4,200 megawatts in the western region, while devices containing conductive material damaged power lines at a critical high-voltage node in Brandenburg. Meanwhile, as of Aug. 30, the EU is drafting an expanded sanctions package against Russia that could target up to 1,600 individuals and legal entities. NATO preparing for further escalations Against the backdrop of rising tensions, NATO is preparing for further escalation, including possible Russian hybrid operations or limited ground incursions. US intelligence assessments have warned that Moscow could test the alliance in the upcoming years, with risks continuously growing as the Kremlin increasingly views NATO’s provision of weapons and intelligence to Kyiv as direct involvement in the war. You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter

Sabotage du Nord Stream : pourquoi la version du commando ukrainien ne tient pas Le 26 septembre 2022, les journaux télévisés s'affolent. Une fuite de gaz impressionnante trouble ostensiblement les eaux froides de la mer baltique, au large de l'île de Bornholm, située au nord du Danemark. Rapidement la nouvelle circule : 3 des 4 tuyaux des gazoducs Nord Stream 1 et 2 sont hors service. Immédiatement, l'Ukraine et ses alliés accusent un sabotage russe, relayés par de nombreux médias occidentaux. Une version qui n'a pas convaincu grand monde : quel motif raisonnable aurait poussé la Russie à détruire délibérément la principale artère économique rendant l'Allemagne et l'Europe dépendante de ses livraisons de gaz ? Dans la foulée, Le New York Times lui-même révélait que les autorités russes procédaient à des estimations pour connaitre le coûts des réparations. Le parquet fédéral allemand se vante, preuves à l'appui, d'avoir identifié les coupables. L'explosion est attribuée à quatre engins pesant au moins 14 kilogrammes chacun, transportés à bord de l'Andromeda, un voilier de plaisance loué par un commando ukrainien ultra-spécialisé. Les explosifs auraient été placés par des plongeurs à des profondeurs d'environ 70 à 80 mètres, selon le communiqué du procureur fédéral. 3 des 6 membres de cette équipe aguerrie auraient été reconnus. L'un d'entre eux, tout récemment en Croatie, alors qu'il participait comme conseiller à la production d'un film… sur le sabotage du gazoduc ! Volodymyr Zelensky a répété dans la foulée que le gouvernement ukrainien n'avait rien à voir avec le sabotage. Pour une fois la Russie était d'accord : en 2025 Nikolaï Patrouchev, l'un des plus proches conseillers de Vladimir Poutine, a spécifiquement pointé du doigt le Special Boat Service (SBS), une unité d'élite britannique, dotée de plongeurs de combat capables de mener des opérations secrètes sous-marines complexes. Patroutchev affirmait que l'Ukraine ne disposait tout simplement pas de l'expertise nécessaire pour procéder au plus grand sabotage d'une infrastructure stratégique depuis la 2e guerre mondiale (la construction du gazoduc a couté 23 milliards de dollars, sans compter le dommages environnemental : avec des émissions massives de méthane, un gaz dont l'impact sur le réchauffement de l'atmosphère est 25 fois supérieur à celui du CO2). Si on ne peut exclure à ce stade une intervention ukrainienne, force est de constater qu'il reste beaucoup, voire trop de zones d'ombres. En parallèle de l'enquête allemande, Nord Stream AG, l'entreprise chargée de la construction du gazoduc, a poursuivi ses assureurs devant le Tribunal de Commerce de Londres après que ceux-ci ont refusé de prendre en charge les dommages. L'analyse des experts londoniens est bien plus précise et étayée par des données médico-légales ; elle met en évidence un certain nombre de divergences problématiques avec l'Allemagne. Le premier événement sismique a été enregistré à 2 h 03 du matin, le 26 septembre 2022. Il correspondait à des dommages survenus au sud-est de Bornholm, dans la zone économique exclusive (ZEE) du Danemark. La ligne A de Nord Stream 2 s'est rompue, tandis que la ligne B a subi des dommages externes sans présenter de fuite. Dix-sept heures plus tard, à 19 h 03, un deuxième événement s'est produit au nord-est de Bornholm, 75 km plus loin. Il a provoqué la rupture des deux tuyaux de Nord Stream 1 à des emplacements situés à la fois dans les ZEE suédoise et danoise. Les tuyaux de plus d'un mètre de diamètre sont en acier lourd, protégés, qui plus est, par une couche de béton armé. Les experts se sont mis d'accord sur l'utilisation de charges directionnelles, logées dans des conteneurs scellés spécialement conçus pour une utilisation en profondeur. Le fait que les explosifs étaient composés de RDX a également fait consensus. Les engins devaient être acheminés vers différentes sections de pipeline, où les plongeurs devaient localiser dans l'obscurité, à une profondeur d'environ 80 mètres, les points de fixation prévus : des joints soudés. Ils devaient ensuite fixer les charges pour que la force explosive soit correctement dirigée contre l'acier. Les experts en explosifs ont convenu que deux options étaient envisageables pour l'amorçage des bombes : l'utilisation de minuteries numériques ou d'un système de déclenchement acoustique à distance À une profondeur de 70 à 80 mètres, la consommation de gaz respiratoire et la décompression limitent fortement le temps pendant lequel un plongeur peut travailler au fond. Le froid accroît les exigences en matière de protection thermique, tandis que les courants, les conditions météorologiques et les mouvements d'un voilier compliquent encore davantage la mise à l'eau et la récupération des plongeurs. Les experts londoniens ont convenu que des recycleurs en circuit fermé utilisant un mélange gazeux à base d'hélium approprié auraient permis d'atteindre ces profondeurs, qu'une équipe de quatre personnes était envisageable et que des répétitions approfondies auraient été nécessaires. Les spécialistes en opérations sous-marines, ont également convenu que les charges avaient été fixées à l'aide d'aimants puissants et qu'un petit véhicule télécommandé aurait pu faciliter la reconnaissance. La reconstitution proposée par l'un d'entre eux, Paul Haynes, se montre particulièrement sceptique à propos de la version allemande, puisqu'elle table sur un minimum de neuf charges réparties sur six sites de dommages connus. Haynes considère l'Andromeda comme trop petit pour accueillir l'équipement de plongée et de démolition susceptible d'avoir été utilisé. Dans un rapport ultérieur, il a admis que, sous certaines hypothèses restreintes, l'Andromeda aurait pu transporter l'équipement nécessaire, mais il a maintenu que le yacht restait une plate-forme opérationnelle peu plausible, faute de système de positionnement dynamique garantissant la stabilité du voilier pendant l'opération. Il s'interrogeait également sur le temps passé sur place puisqu'en l'absence de chambres de décompression (dont la présence sur un voilier des dimensions de l'Andromeda est impossible), l'installation de chacun des explosif aurait pris plusieurs heures, impliquant une remontée à la surface par paliers. Cela, sans être interceptés par une patrouille de gardes-côtes ou un sous-marin. Mais pourquoi, se demande par ailleurs Jeffrey Brodsky, l'un des rares journalistes à s'être rendu sur place, des plongeurs dépourvus de chambre de décompression auraient-ils choisi d'exploser les conduites à une profondeur de 80 mètres alors qu'un tronçon voisin du Nord Stream se trouve à moins de 40 mètres ? Et pourquoi l'un des engins explosifs avait-il été placé à 70 km des trois autres ? La Cour fédérale allemande défend l'Andromeda comme structurellement apte, mais l'arrêt publié ne fournit pas d'inventaire complet de l'équipement, ni aucun plan de plongée correspondant à chaque emplacement présumé d'explosifs. Or si le yacht transportait la même composition explosive, les mêmes systèmes de fixation et les mêmes composants de mise à feu que ceux retrouvés sur les lieux des dégâts, les preuves matérielles établiraient son rôle de manière bien plus solide que de simples observations ou la présence de résidus génériques. Le fait d'avoir laissé des résidus d'explosifs sur la table relève « soit d'un manque de rigueur incroyable dans la conduite de l'opération, soit d'un amateurisme total, soit d'un “indice” laissé intentionnellement dans le but de tromper », souligne James Bamford, un spécialiste des services de renseignement américains. Il semble peu probable que les auteurs de l'attaque n'aient pas eu le temps d'effacer leurs traces du bateau : l'Andromeda étant restée inutilisé pendant quatre mois avant d'être examiné par les enquêteurs. Selon le jugement rendu à Londres, la Suède et le Danemark ont établi des zones d'exclusion autour des gazoducs endommagés immédiatement après les explosions, et en ont contrôlé l'accès pendant que leurs autorités menaient des enquêtes pénales et des relevés sous-marins. Nord Stream AG n'a commencé sa propre inspection que le 29 octobre 2022. Les conclusions des inspections suédoises et danoises n'ont pas été communiquées à Nord Stream AG, dont les experts ont donc dû s'appuyer sur des relevés effectués après que la scène de crime initiale eut déjà été pénétrée et inspectée. James Bamford, un spécialiste des services de renseignements ne conçoit pas qu'une opération aussi complexe ait pu être menée à l'insu des États-Unis. Les Américains exercent une surveillance complète de la mer Baltique grâce au Système intégré de surveillance sous-marine (IUSS), mis en place en collaboration avec la Suède. Le système de renseignement d'origine électromagnétique (SIGINT) de l'Agence nationale de sécurité surveille de près les communications militaires et gouvernementales ukrainiennes. Bien qu'il ait annoncé la lancement de sa propre enquête, Washington n'a jusqu'à présent fourni aucune donnée. Selon Hans Liwang, spécialiste suédois de la sécurité maritime, des bateaux de pêche, des navires commerciaux et des navires d'État naviguent en permanence dans cette zone. « N'importe lequel d'entre eux peut lancer un drone sous-marin ou un petit sous-marin et acheminer les explosifs à 70 mètres de profondeur, là où passe le gazoduc », explique-t-il. Outre le volet des difficultés techniques, se pose une question fondamentale : à qui profite le crime ? L'Ukraine y aurait certes vu un moyen d'affaiblir son ennemi, mais au risque de se mettre à dos l'allié allemand, fournisseur majeur d'armes et de devises ? À y regarder de plus près, le principal bénéficiaire ne fait aucun doute. Les Etats Unis ont signé en 2025 un contrat à 750 milliards de dollars pour livrer leur surabondant gaz de schiste aux partenaires européens, multipliant par 4 le niveau de leurs exportations d'avant-guerre. Dès ses premiers jours, Nord Stream 1 a été perçu par Washington et ses partenaires de l'OTAN comme une menace pour la domination occidentale. Le 7 février, moins de trois semaines avant l'invasion russe de l'Ukraine, qui semblait inévitable, Joe Biden a rencontré dans son bureau de la Maison Blanche le chancelier allemand Olaf Scholz. Lors du point presse qui a suivi, Biden avait promis qu'il trouverait un moyen de mettre fin au projet. Vingt jours plus tôt, la sous-secrétaire Victoria Nuland avait délivré le même message lors d'un point de presse du département d'État, avec peu de couverture médiatique : « Si la Russie envahit l'Ukraine, d'une manière ou d'une autre Nord Stream 2 ne progressera pas ». Selon le journaliste d'investigation Seymour Hersh, lauréat du prix Pullitzer en 1970, les Baltic Operations 22 menées par l'OTAN 3 mois avant les explosions auraient constitué la couverture parfaite. À cette occasion, les Américains ont officiellement ajouté un exercice au programme. Ce type d'entraînement, relativement habituel, s'est déroulé au large de l'île de Bornholm et impliquait des équipes de plongeurs de l'OTAN posant des mines, avec des équipes concurrentes utilisant les dernières technologies sous-marines pour les localiser et les détruire. Une occasion en or pour déposer des explosifs. John Anker Nielsen, capitaine du port de Christiansø, au nord-est de l'île de Bornholm a déclaré à un journaliste du Politiken, un grand quotidien danois, qu'il était sorti en mer avec une équipe de sauvetage quatre ou cinq jours avant l'explosion pour vérifier l'état de navires à proximité dont les radios étaient éteintes, soupçonnant qu'un accident avait pu se produire, mais qu'il n'avait trouvé que des navires de guerre américains, dont l'équipage avait ordonné à l'équipe de faire demi-tour immédiatement. Pour l'heure, le mystère du Nord Stream est loin d'être résolu. Reste que l'hypothèse privilégiée par les médias « mainstream » est de moins en moins convaincante.

The name of the country has finally been spoken. The German government formally identified Russia on Tuesday as responsible for the failed drone attack at Leipzig Airport on August 4, which targeted a Ukrainian cargo plane. Until now, Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s administration had attributed the incident to “a foreign power” and had avoided mentioning the word Russia, given the gravity of the situation. Foreign Ministers, Johann Wadephul, and Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, appeared in Berlin to detail the outcome of the investigations and the response measures, including the closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn, the last one remaining on German soil. "Police investigations, operational methods, and intelligence information demonstrate Russia’s responsibility in the attempted attack at Leipzig airport," stated Minister Dobrindt. The attack, though unsuccessful, was organized “in a professional manner” with “high technical knowledge,” and the drones’ components are the same as those used in hybrid actions against Ukrainian interests, Dobrindt added. "We are not at war, but we are a daily target of hybrid attacks, like the rest of Europe’s allies," concluded the Interior Minister. Indeed, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul placed the incident within the hybrid-attack campaign Vladimir Putin conducts against European countries, which has intensified as the war in Ukraine drags on without a positive outcome for the Kremlin. "Russia has Germany as a target, just as it targets all of Europe," Wadephul said regarding the episode, which constitutes a qualitative leap in the hybrid war with which Vladimir Putin harasses Europe, especially since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022. Conclusion of the Investigations Police investigation, methods, and intelligence indicate Kremlin authorship, says the German government On the night of August 4, a drone carrying an explosive device was found at Leipzig-Halle airport, whose target, according to the investigation, was a Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft used for transporting military material. The attack failed due to a defect in the detonator. A second drone—remains of which have not been found—may have collided shortly after with a DHL transport aircraft that did not land in Leipzig due to the airport’s closure. An inspection of the aircraft, which was diverted to Hanover, revealed damage to the stabilizer that could not have been caused by a bird strike. Ten days later, on August 14, investigators found a third drone in a field in Kabelsketal, in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, bordering the airport’s western side in Leipzig. They also found 50 grams of a substance suspected to be hexogen, a highly potent military explosive. This finding reinforced the thesis that the Leipzig airport operation, a key transit point for delivering military aid to Ukraine in its war against the Russian invader, was broader than initially believed. In response to the drones in Leipzig Germany will close the Russian consulate in Bonn, the last one remaining on German soil, and the Russian House, a cultural center in Berlin, suspected of espionage In addition to closing the Russian consulate in Bonn on September 18, the measures announced by Minister Wadephul as a response to Russia include: the closure of the Russian House, a cultural center in central Berlin established in 1984 during the East German era, now suspected of Russian espionage in the heart of the capital; a new list of Russian nationals that they plan to add to European sanctions lists; tightening border controls for Russian citizens; and increased pressure on the so-called ‘phantom fleet’ of Russia in the Baltic Sea. Russia’s hybrid warfare catalog in recent years is varied: from cyberattacks and disinformation interference in electoral campaigns of European countries, to sabotage of Baltic infrastructure, difficult to attribute as it often involves submarine cable breaks by the anchors of ships of the ‘phantom fleet’ or Chinese vessels; including drone appearances in strategic locations, or the use of incentivized migration at the Belarusian border to destabilize the European Union. Some actions have targeted Western European countries, such as Germany, France, or the United Kingdom, though sabotage and drone incidents increasingly affect NATO’s eastern flank countries, especially Poland and the Baltic states, as well as Finland and Nordic countries, but also Romania. Solidarity with Germany EU and NATO send a message of unity EU Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen expressed on X, “the EU’s full solidarity” with Germany in the face of this Russian action, and asserted that “hybrid attacks will not go unanswered.” Von der Leyen explained that she would address the matter today with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and that at the next EU foreign ministers’ meeting, new sanctions would be discussed. Stoltenberg also posted on X that NATO will protect its members “against any threat, including malign actions like those that occurred in Leipzig and elsewhere within the Alliance,” and stressed that “Russia’s attempts to intimidate us, weaken our unity, and undermine our commitment to helping Ukraine are useless and will fail,” because “our support for Ukraine is unwavering, as is our firm commitment to NATO’s collective defense.” All of this comes after weeks in which U.S. intelligence and Baltic and Nordic intelligence services warned that Russia could carry out some action or incursion on the eastern flank as early as this autumn or before 2029 to test the Alliance’s resolve in responding.

Explosive drone at Leipzig airport: two suspects with Russian passports identified Germany announced Tuesday measures of retaliation against Russia after accusing it of having sent this explosive-laden drone to Leipzig airport at the start of August, a strategic military hub for the German army and for NATO. The German Criminal Police (BKA) has identified the DNA of two men with Russian passports suspected of bringing an explosive drone to Leipzig airport, an attack attempt attributed on Tuesday to Russia by Berlin, according to three German outlets on Wednesday. For the newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) and the regional public broadcasting groups NDR and WDR, the first suspect, of Belarusian nationality but who also holds a Russian passport, would have entered the Schengen Area on a tourist Italian visa issued in Minsk. This man is said to have previously drawn attention for offences committed in the Baltic states, the three outlets claim. The second suspect, who would hold a Latvian and a Russian passport according to NDR and WDR, and who would have been born in Russia according to SZ, would have acted as logistician and instructor for the attack. Arrived in Germany at the end of July via Berlin Airport, he would have rented a car to travel to the Leipzig region (east) before leaving the country two days before the alleged attack, again according to the same sources. The two men would have been identified thanks to DNA traces found by forensic police and in the vicinity of the airport: on a drone, in a tin can filled with explosives, and on an antenna attached to a tree. European databases allowed matching in Lithuania and Finland, corroborated by intelligence services, according to these press outlets as well. Germany announced Tuesday measures of retaliation against Russia after accusing it of having sent this explosive-laden drone to Leipzig airport at the start of August, a key military platform for the German army and for NATO. The drone had been discovered in the secure freight operations area near several Ukrainian cargo planes, and a second device was said to have struck a DHL cargo plane minutes later. According to the German press, another drone was later found near the airport, also with traces of explosive substances. “Russian responsibility in the attempted attack” German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that “police investigations, modus operandi, and intelligence service information” demonstrate “Russian responsibility in the attempted attack at Leipzig airport.” President Vladimir Putin denounced on Tuesday a “new gross mistake” by Germany, which has become the leading financial supporter of Ukraine, and Russian diplomacy announced on Wednesday that it had summoned the German chargé d’affaires in Moscow. Since the start of the Ukraine war in February 2022, Germany and several other European states have regularly attributed to the Kremlin destabilization, espionage, and sabotage operations on their soil.

Berlin points a finger at Moscow. German authorities hold Russia responsible for the hybrid attack carried out with a drone filled with explosives, in early August, at Leipzig airport, stated Tuesday, September 1, by Alexander Dobrindt, the German interior minister, during a joint press conference with his foreign affairs colleague, Johann Wadephul. An intelligence service investigation reveals that individuals involved in the attack acted on behalf of Russian government agencies. “Overall, police inquiries, the methods of operation, and intelligence service information demonstrate Russian responsibility in the attempted attack at Leipzig airport,” Dobrindt said during a brief statement. His foreign affairs colleague, Johann Wadephul, then announced the imminent closure within about two weeks of Germany’s last Russian consulate, in Bonn, and of a Russian cultural center in Berlin suspected of harboring spies. “I ordered the following measures, in agreement with the Chancellor [Friedrich Merz]: the Russian General Consulate in Bonn will be closed by September 18. The contract of the Russian House in Berlin will be terminated,” he said. This establishment is regularly accused of serving Kremlin propaganda and being used as cover by Russian intelligence services. Berlin will also propose adding new Russian nationals to European sanctions lists. Johann Wadephul also promised to “strengthen the pressure on the Russian ghost fleet,” referring to a set of aging ships with opaque legal status that Russia uses to bypass Western sanctions. NATO is “fully supportive” of Germany after the “Russian hybrid attack” at Leipzig, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, claiming that the evidence of Moscow’s involvement was “clear.” “Russia’s attempts to intimidate us, undermine our unity, and undermine our will to support Ukraine are in vain and will fail,” he continued. “The EU stands in full solidarity with Germany in the face of this Russian attack,” commented European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after a meeting with Chancellor Friedrich Merz. “The message is clear: hybrid attacks will not go unanswered,” she added. In the night of August 4–5, a drone filled with explosives was discovered in the secure air freight area of Leipzig airport, near several Ukrainian cargo planes, and a second device reportedly struck a DHL cargo aircraft a few minutes later. The drone located near a Ukrainian cargo airplane had been neutralized by a police robot. According to German press, another drone was later found near the airport, also with traces of explosive substances. “We do not view the Leipzig incident in isolation but in the context of other hybrid actions,” said Alexander Dobrindt. Since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, Germany and several other European states have regularly attributed destabilization, espionage, and sabotage operations on their soil to the Kremlin. On Tuesday, an improvised explosive device damaged several power lines near a power plant in eastern Germany, police announced without giving further details about the suspects. Facing the multiplicity of threats, the German government presented in mid-August a broad reform of its intelligence services, granting them expanded powers. In Leipzig, the technology used and “the interaction of the different elements must be described as professional and reveal a high level of technical expertise as well as a substantial organizational effort,” the interior minister added. While the final execution of the “attempted attack” involved so-called “throwaway” agents, they acted “on the orders of Russian state authorities,” he claimed. The airport, located in eastern Germany, plays a leading role in transporting military equipment, particularly for the German army and NATO allies, and also serves as a base for the Ukrainian aircraft manufacturer Antonov. Without naming Moscow, Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned last week that the authors of hybrid attacks against Germany “would pay the price.” Responding to the German government’s announcement, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Moscow would respond in due time to what she called an “anti-Russia measure.” Maria Zakharova, whose remarks were relayed by Interfax, offered no further details. The World with AFP and Reuters

Beginning of August, a drone equipped with an "explosive device" had been discovered in the freight operations area of Leipzig airport, disrupting air traffic. This Tuesday, Berlin asserts that Russia is "responsible" for this security incident. Germany holds Russia "responsible" for the "hybrid attack" allegedly carried out with a drone loaded with explosives at Leipzig airport in early August, a key platform for the German military, NATO and logistical support to Ukraine, the German Interior Minister said on Tuesday. "Overall, police investigations, patterns of operation, and intelligence service information demonstrate Russian responsibility in the attempt to attack Leipzig airport," said Alexander Dobrindt in a brief statement. In response, Germany will close the Russian consulate in Bonn and a Russian cultural center in Berlin, announced Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul. "I have ordered the following measures, in agreement with the Federal Chancellor [Friedrich Merz]: The Russian Consulate General in Bonn will be closed by September 18. The contract of the ‘Russian House’ in Berlin will be terminated," Wadephul said in a statement following the Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt. The sanctions, which obviously did not please Russia, which, through its ambassador, said they "will not be without consequences." They even were described as a "new mistake" by Germany by Vladimir Putin during a news conference held after the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan). The European Union is "fully by Germany's side" against the "Russia’s attack" in early August, Ursula von der Leyen assured. A sign of the gravity of the events, following the German statements, Mark Rutte, the head of NATO, recalled that the Alliance will defend its members against "any threat." Separately, Emmanuel Macron said on X that these hybrid attacks that are increasing in Europe "cannot go unanswered." And the president pledged that "France stands fully in solidarity with Germany and supports the adoption of new European sanctions against Russia." The "attempted attack" In early August, a drone loaded with explosives was discovered in the secure zone of the airport’s freight operations, near several Ukrainian cargo planes, and a second device reportedly struck a DHL cargo plane a few minutes later. According to media reports, which rely on sources close to authorities, a third drone was found ten days later to the west of the airport. A substance that could correspond to about 50 grams of hexogen, a very powerful military explosive, was found on site. The minister supported his accusation by noting that the "means of action observed fit the well-known pattern of Russian hybrid operations in Europe." "The configuration of the drones" and the use of "various components, explosives and firing devices" point to "other hybrid operations conducted by Russia and its war against Ukraine," he specified. The technology used and the "interaction of the various elements must be described as professional and reveal a high level of technical expertise as well as a considerable organizational effort," he continued. If the final execution of the "attempted attack" falls under so-called disposable agents, they acted "on orders from Russian state authorities," the conservative minister further alleged.

German police are investigating a possible act of sabotage at a power substation in Bergheim, North Rhine-Westphalia. A short circuit caused five coal-fired power units with a total capacity of about 4,200 MW to shut down, writes Spiegel. Following a malfunction at a substation in Bergheim, near Cologne, investigators discovered six explosive devices in a field. According to the investigation, these devices were likely intended to be used to string wire across power lines using explosive materials. The unknown perpetrators may have used the wire or another conductive material to cause a short circuit. "...this was done on purpose. Anyone who interferes with this is attacking our country," said Herbert Roeil, Minister of the Interior of North Rhine-Westphalia. According to him, investigators are considering two main theories: sabotage orchestrated by a foreign government, or the involvement of left-wing extremists. The police have launched an investigation into allegations of "unconstitutional subversion." Law enforcement officials are also looking into a possible connection with the attack on the substation in Brandenburg, which occurred on the same day. According to Spiegel, German investigators are working closely together on both investigations. According to Mona Neubauer, the energy minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, the situation in which two similar attacks on critical infrastructure occurred within 24 hours "is a matter of national security." The incident at the substation in Bergheim-Reidt occurred on Tuesday evening. Due to a short circuit, RWE shut down five units at power plants in Neurath and Niederaussem with a combined capacity of about 4,200 MW. Three power units were scheduled to resume operation on Wednesday, and two more by the end of the week. There were no power outages affecting households. As Spiegel notes, German law enforcement agencies had already warned several weeks ago of an increase in the number and intensity of attacks on businesses and critical infrastructure facilities. Particular attention was paid to the energy sector, whose operations the attackers might attempt to disrupt or shut down. - August 4, near the Leipzig/Halle Airport discovered a drone carrying explosives, as well as other items related to the planning of the attack. On August 25, German investigators reported the discovery of another drone and explosives. - Germany officially assigned responsibility for attempting to attack Russia, calling it part of a well-known pattern Russian hybrid operations in Europe. On September 2, German investigators The suspects were identified. One of them is a Belarusian citizen with a Russian passport, and the other is a man with passports from Latvia and the Russian Federation.

German investigators have identified suspects in the case concerning the attempted drone attack involving explosives on Leipzig Airport, which took place on August 4. it is about / the subject is / the matter concerns in a joint investigation by NDR, WDR, and Süddeutsche Zeitung. One of the suspects is a Belarusian national who may also hold a Russian passport. His DNA was found at the scene. German investigators were able to reconstruct his entry into and exit from the country. Preliminary information indicates that the suspect entered the Schengen area on an Italian tourist visa issued in late April at the Italian diplomatic mission in Minsk. Journalists identify the second man as the operation's likely logistician and instructor. According to the investigation, he flew into Germany via Berlin-Brandenburg Airport in late July and then traveled to Saxony in a rented car. He left Germany by plane two days before the failed attack. According to journalists, the man holds both Latvian and Russian passports. Investigators discovered several DNA traces at the scene—on one of the drones, inside a tin can filled with explosives, and on an antenna attached to a tree near the airport. Some of these traces yielded matches in European databases, specifically in Lithuania and Finland. Investigators believe that more drones may have been used during the attempted attack than previously thought. So far, three drones have been found, either intact or in pieces. Germany officially placed the responsibility for an attempted attack on Russia, calling it part of a known pattern Russian hybrid operations in EuropeThe identification of possible perpetrators provides German investigators with new information to establish who directly organized and carried out the operation. Journalists note that identifying and apprehending the actual perpetrators could prove difficult if they are already outside Europe. - On August 4, near Leipzig/Halle Airport discovered a drone with explosives, as well as other items related to the preparation of the attack. - On August 25, German investigators reported the discovery of another drone and explosives. - On September 1, the German government officially stated, which holds Russia responsible for the attempted attack. - NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed ...full solidarity with Germany and stated that Russian aggression would not cause the EU and NATO to weaken their support for Ukraine.

German authorities were Wednesday investigating two attacks on electricity substations in different parts of the country, the latest suspected sabotage targeting critical infrastructure. Police launched a terrorism probe over the first incident, which saw improvised explosives fired early Tuesday at a site in eastern Brandenburg state, damaging power cables. In the second sabotage attack, unknown perpetrators allegedly deliberately caused a short-circuit by targeting overhead power lines at a substation in Bergheim in North Rhine-Westphalia state. North Rhine-Westphalia Interior Minister Herbert Reul said officials were probing whether the attack was directed by a “foreign state” or left-wing extremism. Neither attack caused widespread power outages, although operations at nearby coal-fired power stations were affected. Germany has faced repeated attacks on electricity infrastructure, with far-left militants claiming responsibility in some cases. Berlin, a key supporter of Ukraine in its fight against Russia, is also on alert for Moscow-backed sabotage plots. “More sabotage, more hybrid attacks — interference like this is not happening far away, it’s happening right on our doorstep,” Reul told a press conference. “And anyone who acts this way is not just trying to hit cables; they’re trying to hit our country.” The attacks came the same day that Germany formally blamed Russia for an attempted “hybrid attack” involving an explosive-laden drone at a strategic airport in Leipzig last month and announced diplomatic counter-measures. – Latest infrastructure attack – In the Bergheim incident, police were called to the substation late Tuesday. Perpetrators are suspected of causing a short-circuit in overhead power lines by placing “conductive material” on them, according to officials. Energy company RWE said five power-generating units at two of its coal-fired plants in the region were knocked out by the disruption at the substation, although there was no widespread disruption for customers. Three of the units were expected to go back online later Wednesday while the two others should be restarted at the weekend. The earlier attack in Brandenburg saw improvised explosives, which resembled large fireworks, fired at a substation in Preilack, causing damage to power cables and a brief supply disruption. The substation distributes power from the nearby Jaenschwalde plant. Police announced Wednesday they had launched a terror probe into that incident. They are also investigating the attack on suspicion of disrupting public services and destroying essential equipment, according to a statement. Reul said authorities were trying to figure out if there was a link between the two attacks, adding: “We are in close contact with our colleagues in Brandenburg.” Photos on social media of deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in a US detention center were taken by prison staff and mailed to the family, his son said. Finnish authorities said Wednesday they were investigating a “possible territorial violation,” after a drone was found washed up on shore in the country’s south. Ukraine said Wednesday it had formally notified the International Civil Aviation Organization that Russian airspace was “not safe”, following an increase in long-range Ukrainian German media reported Wednesday that police have identified two Russian suspects linked to an attempted “hybrid attack” involving an explosive-laden drone

Israeli police said Friday they had killed a Palestinian after he attempted to attack officers with a knife in central Jerusalem, ahead of a major Jewish holiday. German media reported Wednesday that police have identified two Russian suspects linked to an attempted “hybrid attack” involving an explosive-laden drone at a strategic airport last month. The German government on Tuesday blamed Russia for the Leipzig airport incident, saying it employed “low-level agents”, and announced measures including the shuttering of the Russian consulate in Bonn and a Russian cultural centre in Berlin. According to the Sueddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) daily and the regional public broadcasters NDR and WDR, the first suspect is a Belarussian national who also holds a Russian passport and is believed to have entered the Schengen area with an Italian tourist visa issued in Minsk. This man, whose DNA was reportedly found at the airport, had already attracted attention for offences committed in the Baltic states, the outlets say. The second suspect, who reportedly holds both Latvian and Russian passports, is believed to have acted as logistics coordinator and instructor for the hybrid attack. Having arrived at Berlin airport at the end of July, he is alleged to have rented a car to travel to the Leipzig region before leaving Germany two days before the suspected attack. The two men were reportedly identified thanks to DNA traces found by police at and around the airport: on a drone, in a tin can filled with explosives, and on an antenna attached to a tree. European databases made it possible to establish matches, notably in Lithuania and Finland, which were corroborated by intelligence service information, according to the same media outlets. The drone was discovered in the secure cargo operations area at Leipzig airport, near a Ukrainian cargo plane. According to the German press, another drone was later discovered near the airport, also bearing traces of explosive substances. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Germany’s reaction was a “mistake, a serious one”. Russia said Wednesday it was summoning Germany’s charge d’affaires to protest what it called “anti-Russian actions and statements by the German authorities”. The death toll from a ferry accident off northern Cyprus rose to 12 on Friday after rescuers found the bodies of two women, with another 16 people still missing, officials said. Denmark said Friday it was ready to send rejected asylum seekers to ‘return hubs’ as of 2027, as it hosted talks with four EU countries on the creation of migrant detention centres outside Europe. Macau is targeting average annual growth of around 5 per cent in international visitor arrivals between 2026 and 2030, while developing Muslim-friendly facilities, pet-friendly tourism, and study-tour products. Acting Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) director Si Tou Lam Lai outlined the target during TDM’s Macau Forum programme, citing the government’s Third Five-Year Plan for Economic […]

BERLIN, Sept 2 (Reuters) - German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Wednesday that the European Union will work on imposing further sanctions on Russian individuals in the coming weeks. "The EU has imposed extensive sanctions on Russia, but we will certainly continue to work on imposing sanctions on individuals in the coming weeks," he said on the sidelines of an EU meeting in Ireland. "Pressure on Russia is being stepped up and support for Ukraine also remains at a high level. That is the unity we are demonstrating at this time," he said. The top diplomat's comments come after the German government said on Tuesday that Russia was responsible for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle airport last month and that it ordered a series of measures in response. (Reporting by Alexander Ratz, writing by Linda Pasquini, editing by Thomas Seythal and Ludwig Burger)

September 04, 2026 Russia/Ukraine Sanctions Update - Month of August 2026 US Sanctions | EU Sanctions | UK Sanctions | Russia/Ukraine Sanctions | Other Notable Developments - U.S. Secretary of State Celebrates Ukraine National Day: On August 24, U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, issued a statement congratulating the Ukrainian people on the anniversary of its independence from the Soviet Union. In his statement, Secretary Rubio emphasized the U.S. “is committed to Ukraine’s sovereignty and continues to work to support a negotiated settlement to the Russia-Ukraine war that establishes a lasting and durable peace.” Read more >> - OFAC Extends General License for Certain Diamond Imports: On August 26, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) issued General License No. 104B under the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations (31 CFR part 587), extending the authorization for certain transactions ordinarily incident and necessary to the importation into the United States of certain categories of non-industrial diamonds. The authorization covers non-industrial diamonds with a weight of 1.0 carat or greater (that were physically located outside of the Russian Federation before March 1, 2024) and non-industrial diamonds with a weight of 0.5 carats or greater (that were physically located outside of the Russian Federation before September 1, 2024), provided such diamonds were not exported or re-exported from the Russian Federation after those respective dates. The general license extends the authorization through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, September 1, 2027. General License No. 104B replaces and supersedes General License No. 104A, dated August 27, 2025. The importation of non-industrial diamonds of Russian Federation origin remains prohibited pursuant to section 1(a)(i)(A) of Executive Order 14068. Read more >> - OFAC Extends General License for Sale of Lukoil International GmbH: On August 20, OFAC issued General License No. 131I under the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations (31 CFR part 587), extending the authorization for certain transactions prohibited by Executive Order 14024 that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the negotiation of and entry into contingent contracts with Public Joint-Stock Company Oil Company Lukoil or any of its affiliates for the sale, disposition, or transfer of Lukoil International GmbH (“LIG”) or any entity in which LIG owns, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, a 50 percent or greater interest. The general license also authorizes transactions ordinarily incident and necessary to the maintenance or wind down of operations, contracts, or other agreements of LIG Entities. Both authorizations are extended through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, September 19, 2026. General License No. 131I replaces and supersedes General License No. 131H, dated July 24, 2026. The general license does not authorize the transfer of funds to any person or account located in the Russian Federation. Read more >> - U.S. House Introduces Sweeping Russia and Iran Sanctions Bill: On August 10, a broad bipartisan group of U.S. House members introduced the House companion to the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, days after the Senate approved the legislation by an 86-11 vote. The bill, named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham, would target Russian banks, energy revenues, oligarchs, Russia’s “shadow fleet,” sanctions-evasion networks, and foreign governments and companies helping sustain Russia’s war against Ukraine. Key provisions include authorization of tariffs of up to 500 percent on goods imported from Russia and up to 100 percent on goods from countries that are among the largest purchasers of Russian crude oil or natural gas or leading facilitators of Russian oil sanctions evasion. The bill would also prohibit new U.S. investment in Russia, restrict investment in Russia’s energy sector, prohibit purchases of Russian sovereign debt, and target financial-messaging services used to circumvent sanctions. Additionally, the legislation would extend the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 through 2031. The bill provides that the president may terminate the Russia-related sanctions only after certifying to Congress that Russia has signed a peace agreement accepted by Ukraine’s government and has ceased military hostilities against Ukraine. The House companion bill is identical to the Senate-passed measure. Read more >> - EU Imposes Additional Sanctions on Russia : On August 7, the EU added five Russian individuals to the list of persons subject to asset freeze and travel ban measures responsible for supporting Russia’s military and industrial complex in the context of its ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. Read more >>; Read more >> - Human Trafficking and Illicit Recruitment of Foreign Nationals for Russia’s War of Aggression: On August 6, the High Representative/Vice-President Kallas responded to a parliamentary question on Russia’s deceptive and coercive recruitment of third country citizens, including from African states, to fight in its war against Ukraine and to work in its military industry. The HR/VP indicated that the EU strongly condemns these practices and that this issue has been raised in diplomatic and political contacts with affected countries, which have been invited to warn their citizens against signing up for job or training opportunities in Russia. The European External Action Service has also been raising awareness through public diplomacy and strategic communication campaigns, including through the network of EU Delegations, notably in Africa. The HR/VP further noted that possible specific measures have been discussed with the leadership of Ukraine, given the varying circumstances of the foreign nationals in question. As regards targeted sanctions, the HR/VP recalled that any additional restrictive measures on individuals and entities are decided by the Council by unanimity. Read more >>; Read more >> - Russia Expands Shadow LNG Fleet to Circumvent EU Sanctions: According to press reports, Russia has expanded its shadow LNG fleet to 25 vessels, including at least eight second-hand tankers acquired in the past six months and two domestically built carriers from the Zvezda shipyard, ahead of the EU’s full ban on Russian LNG imports taking effect in 2027. The shadow tankers, owned by Russia-linked shell companies in Dubai, Hong Kong, and Singapore, use flags of convenience, signal jamming, and ship-to-ship transfers to disguise cargo origins, mirroring the tactics of Russia’s 1,000-strong oil “dark fleet.” Further expansion faces constraints as France’s GTT, which holds a near monopoly on specialised LNG containment systems, has suspended Russian contracts and six ice-class vessels remain blocked at South Korea’s Hanwha shipyard due to sanctions. Read more >> - Gazprombank Luxembourg Directors Allegedly Profited from EU Sanctions via Bond Swap Scheme - A Financial Times investigation revealed that four managing directors at Gazprombank Luxembourg used personal loans from Gazprombank Moscow (totalling over €17 million) to purchase discounted Gazprom bonds on the European market between July and November 2022, then swapped them for full-value rouble-denominated replacements in Russia under a programme decreed by President Putin, potentially netting combined profits exceeding €9 million. The trades raised questions about circumvention of EU sanctions on Russia’s National Settlement Depository, which was involved in settling the bond replacements, and about possible use of insider information given the directors’ coordinated purchases shortly before Gazprom publicly announced eligible bonds. Luxembourg’s financial regulator (CSSF) inspected the bank in 2023 but imposed no fines and found only internal policy violations, drawing criticism of the country’s light-touch regulatory approach. Read more >> - OTSI publishes Annual Review for 2025-26: On 27 August 2026, the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI) published its Annual Review for 2025-26. In the reporting period, OTSI received 178 reports or referrals relating to potential breaches of trade sanctions. The majority of reports were submitted by the financial services sector and related to potential breaches under the UK Russia regime. 104 enforcement cases were closed, with 41 for which no breach was identified and 40 cases which were closed by OTSI and referred to HMRC for a range of reasons, including criminal enforcement consideration or where potential breaches predate OTSI’s enforcement powers. Read more >> - OFSI amends General Licence INT/2025/5635700: On 31 July 2026, OFSI amended General Licence INT/2025/5635700 under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, which permits the continuation of business operations with certain sanctioned entities relating to certain oil projects, to add the Kurdistan Export Pipeline to the list of relevant projects. Read more >>; Read more >> - OTSI publishes guidance on banknotes trading: On 3 August 2026, OTSI issued guidance on the prohibitions under the Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 and the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 on supplying banknotes. The guidance explains the prohibitions and the exception for personal use in the context of travel to Russia and Belarus. Read more >> - House of Commons Library publishes updates on Russian sanctions: On 3 August 2026, the House of Commons Library published a research briefing entitled “Sanctions against Russia: What has changed since January 2025?”. The briefing notes that since January 2025 the UK has tightened sanctions against Russia, continued to target Russia’s shadow fleet, implemented further measures designed to restrict Russia’s energy revenues and financed the purchase of military equipment for Ukraine using the proceeds from frozen Russian assets. The briefing also notes that the UK government plans to introduce new legislation to target sanctions evasion and the export of goods to third countries which are then re-directed to Russia. Read more >> - New sanctions package targeting Russia: On 6 August 2026, the UK sanctioned certain Russian banks, shadow fleet ships, other entities and one individual under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. Read more >>; Read more >> - UK extends Lukoil-related general licences and adds reporting requirement: On 12 August 2026, the UK amended General Licence INT/2025/7895596 under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, which authorises the continuation of business operations with four Lukoil Bulgaria entities, to (inter alia) add a new notification requirement and to extend the term of the General Licence to 29 October 2026. The UK also amended General Licence INT/2025/8031092, which allows the continuation of business operations with Lukoil International GmbH and its subsidiaries, to (inter alia) add a new notification requirement and to extend the term of the General Licence to 26 February 2027 Read more >>; Read more >>; Read more >>; Read more >> - Ukraine Extends the Sanction Lists: In August 2026, Ukraine extended the sanctions to 97 legal entities and 118 individuals. The sanctions cover Russian companies in aluminium, agricultural and military sectors. Separate sanctions were also imposed against 13 vessels of the shadow fleet. The full list of the sanctioned persons is available at the website of the State Sanctions Register of Ukraine. Read more >>; Read more >>, Read more >>, Read more >>, Read more >>, Read more >> - Ukraine Proposes Expanding the Grounds for Imposing Sanctions: Ukraine’s government has introduced a draft law that would allow the Foreign Ministry to independently propose the imposition, amendment, or removal of sanctions to the National Security and Defence Council. The legislation would also permit Ukraine to use sanctions decisions adopted by foreign governments in response to Russia’s armed aggression as a basis for imposing corresponding Ukrainian restrictions, provided they do not conflict with Ukraine’s national interests. In addition, the bill sets out new grounds for lifting sanctions, including the achievement of their objectives and relevant decisions by the UN, EU, or foreign authorities. Read more >> - Ukraine Calls on EU to Sanction Rosatom: Ukraine renewed Kyiv’s call for the EU to sanction Russia’s nuclear energy giant Rosatom following reports of safety, security and engineering failures at one of its projects in Egypt. Ukraine, which sanctioned Rosatom in 2023, argues that Russia’s actions at the Chornobyl and Zaporizhzhia nuclear sites demonstrate that Moscow cannot be trusted in the nuclear sector. However, EU-wide sanctions remain blocked by the need for unanimous approval among all 27 member states, while Rosatom continues to maintain and expand its nuclear projects in several European countries. Read more >> - Russia Threatens To Seize EU-Linked Vessels In Response To Sanctions Enforcement: President Vladimir Putin warned that Russia could seize vessels linked to “unfriendly” EU states in retaliation for European efforts to board and confiscate cargo from ships carrying sanctioned Russian oil. Moscow accused EU countries of violating international maritime law and said it has the capability to inspect or detain EU-linked and third-country “shadow fleet” vessels. At the same time, Russia plans to expand Arctic shipping with China, India and other partners, with the Northern Sea Route increasingly used to transport Russian oil to Asian markets and potentially shorten voyages compared with the Suez Canal. Read more >> - Putin Signs Law Allowing Russia to Strip Foreign Companies of Buyback Rights: President Vladimir Putin signed a law allowing Russian asset owners to reject foreign investors’ contractual rights to repurchase assets or stakes in Russian companies sold after 22 February 2022. The restrictions apply to investors from “unfriendly” states and can be triggered by support for anti-Russian sanctions or criticism of the Russian military, as well as by economic factors such as a buyback price deviating from market value by at least 25% or additional investments made by the Russian buyer. Affected foreign investors may seek compensation within one year, although the court can reduce or deny such payments. Read more >> - Putin Signs Law Imposing Restrictions On Russians Convicted In Absentia: President Vladimir Putin signed a law imposing financial, property, and consular restrictions on Russians living abroad who have been convicted in absentia, including for offenses commonly used against Kremlin critics and anti-war activists. Those placed on a new official register will face frozen assets, blocked banking and property transactions, restricted access to government services, and limits on obtaining passports and other consular documents. The measure is part of a broader package of legislation expanding state control, which also introduces a tightly regulated cryptocurrency market and grants authorities wider access to confidential business data in the food sector. Read more >> - Russia and Myanmar Sign Declaration to Counter Sanctions: Russia and Myanmar signed a joint declaration on countering, mitigating, and compensating for the negative effects of unilateral sanctions following talks between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Min Aung Hlaing in Moscow. The document was exchanged by the two countries’ foreign ministers alongside other agreements signed during the Myanmar president’s visit to Russia. The move underscores the two countries’ efforts to coordinate their response to foreign sanctions and strengthen bilateral cooperation. Read more >> - EU Increases Imports of Russian LNG Despite Plans to End Supplies in 2027: EU countries increased imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) by 14% year-on-year in June, with France accounting for the largest share. The increase came amid disruptions to global LNG supplies caused by the war between Iran and the US, which sharply reduced exports through the Strait of Hormuz. Despite the surge, the EU plans to phase out Russian LNG entirely from January 2027, while Russia remained the bloc’s second-largest LNG supplier in the first half of 2026, after the US. Read more >> - Switzerland Approves 20th Sanctions Package Against Russia: On August 20, the Swiss government approved the 20th package of sanctions against Russia, aligning itself with the European Union. In the energy

The German government has officially blamed Russia for an attempted act of sabotage against a Ukrainian An-124 cargo plane at the Leipzig airport. Berlin’s position was presented at a news conference by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul. Dobrindt said the findings of the police investigation, the “characteristic features” of the incident, and intelligence reporting “clearly point to Russia’s involvement in hybrid operations that were planned, that were carried out, and that were also thwarted.” Wadephul laid out the retaliatory measures: Germany will close Russia’s consulate general in Bonn and the Russian House in Berlin. Russia’s ambassador will be summoned to the German Foreign Ministry. German authorities will also tighten controls on the entry of Russian citizens into the country. Exactly how has not yet been specified. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, for her part, said that the EU “stands in full solidarity with Germany in the face of this attack by Russia.” She said she would take the matter up with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and she said the foreign ministers of EU countries would begin preparing additional sanctions. Rutte himself said that “the evidence is clear.” “I welcome the measures announced by Germany in response,” he said. Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Latvia’s Foreign Ministry, and officials from other EU countries also expressed solidarity with Berlin’s actions and a readiness to continue supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized the German government’s moves. “They made up a pretext. And Berlin itself is thoroughly tainted both by inflaming the Ukrainian conflict and by taking part in terrorist attacks against civilians,” she said. Zakharova also said the Russian House had “long been a thorn in the side” of the German authorities, and she said Russia would “respond” to the decision to close it. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Germany was “moving further down the path of escalation.” “It’s hard to comment on this, because if accusations this serious are being made, they have to be backed up by something. If I’m not mistaken, no supporting argument was presented,” Peskov told reporters. A drone with explosives attached to it was found at the Leipzig airport overnight on August 5. The drone was next to a Ukrainian An-124 transport plane that was carrying ammunition. It later emerged that there were several drones — another was found 10 days later, west of the airport, and a third, according to media reports, may have struck the cargo plane, though no trace of that drone was ever found. At Meduza, we are committed to transparency about our use of artificial intelligence in the newsroom. The story you’re reading was written by one of our living, breathing journalists and translated from Russian using an AI model configured to follow our strict editorial standards. This translation process is the result of extensive testing and refinements to ensure our English-language coverage is timely and accurate. A Meduza editor reviews every draft before publication. If you find any errors in this translation, please contact us at [email protected]. To read Meduza’s exclusive content in English, please subscribe to our newsletter.

The European Union is facing growing concerns over alleged Russian hybrid operations on European territory after Germany concluded that Russia was responsible for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport last month. German authorities said their assessment was based on intelligence and police investigations pointing to Russian state involvement. Moscow has rejected the accusation. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the Leipzig incident had the hallmarks of state sponsored terrorism, placing the attack within a wider European debate over Russia’s use of sabotage, cyber operations, airspace violations and other forms of hybrid pressure. European officials argue that such activities are designed to test Europe’s vulnerabilities while avoiding the threshold of conventional military confrontation. The issue dominated discussions as EU foreign ministers gathered informally in Ireland. Kallas said work was continuing on sanctions targeting Russia’s military complex, while several ministers called for additional measures to increase pressure on Moscow. Germany has also indicated that the EU will pursue further sanctions against Russian individuals in the coming weeks. The Leipzig incident comes amid a broader pattern of security concerns across Europe. Romania has repeatedly reported Russian drone incursions into its airspace, while European governments have increasingly warned about threats to critical infrastructure. Germany itself has also been dealing with a recent sabotage incident targeting its power grid. Why It Matters The Leipzig incident matters because it reflects a shift in how European governments perceive Russia’s activities. What might previously have been treated as isolated acts of sabotage or espionage are increasingly being viewed as part of a broader campaign designed to undermine European security and political cohesion. The accusation of state sponsored terrorism also carries political significance. If EU governments increasingly establish direct links between Russian state actors and attacks inside Europe, the distinction between Russia’s war against Ukraine and its confrontation with European states becomes increasingly blurred. The episode also exposes a difficult dilemma for Europe. The EU wants to raise the costs for Moscow without triggering a direct military confrontation with Russia. Stronger sanctions, diplomatic expulsions, tighter counterintelligence measures and improved protection of critical infrastructure therefore become increasingly important tools. At the same time, Ukraine is using the incident to reinforce its demand for stronger European air defence assistance. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called for additional European interceptors to help protect Ukrainian airspace, linking European security directly to Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against Russian attacks. The dispute over Russia’s frozen assets adds another layer. EU countries have immobilised around €210 billion in Russian central bank assets, with roughly €185 billion held through Euroclear in Brussels. Some European governments are again pressing for these resources to be used to support Ukraine, although concerns over legal and financial risks remain. Key Stakeholders European Union: The EU must determine whether the Leipzig incident warrants a stronger collective response and how far it is prepared to escalate sanctions and counter hybrid threats. Germany: Berlin is at the centre of the episode after formally attributing the attempted attack to Russia and announcing diplomatic and other countermeasures. Germany is also pushing for further EU sanctions. Russia: Moscow has denied responsibility and accused Germany and other European governments of making unfounded allegations. Any additional EU measures could prompt further Russian diplomatic retaliation. Ukraine: Kyiv has a direct interest in the European response because stronger European air defence and continued sanctions could strengthen Ukraine’s ability to withstand Russian attacks. EU member states: Countries such as Poland, Romania, Lithuania and the Baltic states are particularly concerned about Russian hybrid activities because of their geographic proximity and previous experiences with airspace violations and suspected sabotage. European financial institutions: Euroclear and European governments remain central to the dispute over whether frozen Russian assets can be mobilised to support Ukraine without exposing European states to significant legal and financial liabilities. What’s Next The immediate next step is likely to be additional EU sanctions against Russian individuals and entities, with European governments already indicating that new measures are being prepared. The bloc will also face pressure to strengthen cooperation against Russian hybrid operations, particularly around airports, energy networks, transport infrastructure and other strategic facilities. Europe is also likely to intensify diplomatic pressure on Moscow. Several EU states have already summoned Russian diplomats over the Leipzig incident, while Germany has taken additional measures against Russian diplomatic and cultural institutions. The more difficult question will be whether EU governments can reach consensus on using frozen Russian sovereign assets to support Ukraine. While several states are reviving the proposal, concerns over legal exposure and financial liability have previously prevented agreement. Ultimately, the Leipzig case could become a test of whether Europe can move from reacting individually to Russian hybrid operations toward a coordinated security strategy that treats attacks on European infrastructure as part of the wider Russia Europe confrontation. With information from Reuters.

✕ HOME NEWS SPORTS SHOWBIZ AFRICA WORLD BUSINESS OPINIONS POLITICS LIFESTYLE HEALTH Close the sidebar NEWS WORLD BUSINESS POLITICS OPINIONS SHOWBIZ SPORTS HEALTH AFRICA Germany investigates suspected power substation sabotage, Russia summons German envoy By FRANCE 24 02 Sep 2026 !File photo of the PCK Schwedt refinery in Schwedt, northeastern Germany, taken August 26, 2026. - © Tobias Schwarz, AFP File photo of the PCK Schwedt refinery in Schwedt, northeastern Germany, taken August 26, 2026. - © Tobias Schwarz, AFP Police launched a In the second sabotage North Rhine-Westphalia Interior Minister Herbert Reul said officials were probing whether the attack was directed by a "foreign state" or left-wing extremism. Neither attack caused widespread power outages, although operations at nearby coal-fired power stations were affected. Germany has faced repeated attacks on electricity infrastructure, with far-left militants claiming responsibility in some cases. "More sabotage, more hybrid attacks – interference like this is not happening far away, it's happening right on our doorstep," Reul told a press conference. "And anyone who acts this way is not just trying to hit cables; they're trying to hit our country." The attacks came the same day that Germany formally blamed Read more Russia summons German envoy over 'anti-Russian actions' Russia on Wednesday said it was summoning Germany's charge d'affaires to protest what it called "anti-Russian actions", after Berlin announced Germany announced counter-measures on Tuesday, saying it would shut Russia's consolate in the western German city of Bonn and cancel a contract for a Russian cultural centre in Berlin. Russia has described Germany's allegations as unsubstantiated and "absurd". "On September 2, Germany's charge d'affaires in Moscow... was summoned to the Russian foreign ministry amid yesterday's anti-Russian actions and statements by the German authorities," said Russia's foreign ministry. Meanwhile German authorities ​have identified two ​suspects in connection with an attempted ​drone attack ‌on Leipzig ⁠airport but will ‌unlikely be able to ⁠detain them, German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported on ​Wednesday. The newspaper, ‌which collaborated on the report with broadcasters ‌Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) and Westdeutscher Rundfunk Köln (WDR), ​said that investigations into the two men, one a ​Russian-born Latvian ​national and the other a Russian national from Latest infrastructure attack In the Bergheim incident, Energy company RWE said five power-generating units at two of its coal-fired plants in the region were knocked out by the disruption at the substation, although there was no widespread disruption for customers. Three of the units were expected to go back online later Wednesday while the two others should be restarted at the weekend. The earlier attack in Brandenburg saw improvised explosives – which resembled large fireworks – fired at a substation in Preilack, causing damage to power cables and a brief supply disruption. The substation distributes power from the nearby Jaenschwalde plant. Police announced Wednesday they had launched a terror probe into that incident. They are also investigating the attack on suspicion of disrupting public services and destroying essential equipment, according to a statement. Reul said authorities were trying to figure out if there was a link between the two attacks, adding: "We are in close contact with our colleagues in Brandenburg." _(FRANCE 24 with AFP and AP)_ 0 Ad

Brussels Goes on the Offensive Against Putin: Creates a Committee of Wise Minds Against the Hybrid Threat Europe is beginning to accept that the Russian threat is not limited to the Ukrainian battlefields and that it overflows the traditional logic of a conventional war. Drone incidents, incursions into airspace, suspicious sabotage, attacks on critical infrastructure, and disinformation operations outline a new security scenario for the European Union. Germany’s attribution to Russia of the foiled drone attack against Leipzig Airport has crystallized that perception. Brussels has closed ranks with Berlin and is preparing a response that aims to bend the course with the creation of a group of political and military experts capable of offering a “new perspective” on the security challenges posed by Moscow. The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, announced the initiative after the informal defense ministers’ meeting held in Ireland. The goal is to bring together “some of the brightest minds” in security and defense to provide innovative solutions to threats that, according to the European official, are already “very real.” The new approach also seeks to address the so‑called Russian hybrid war, a field in which Europe believes Moscow is progressively raising the risk level. Brussels’ diagnosis is increasingly grim. “Russia is trying to deter us from helping Ukraine, but it will not succeed,” Kallas warned. Estonia’s policy sees Moscow trying to intimidate European governments and make them reconsider their military and political backing for Ukraine. “Russia is trying to sow distrust and fear among our societies. But it will fail. And we will support Ukraine for as long as necessary,” said the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. European concerns do not only stem from the number of incidents but from their trajectory. Security and intelligence services warn of rising frequency of operations, as well as the recklessness with which they are carried out, as in the Leipzig airport drone case. The fear is that an action initially designed to stay below the threshold of open military confrontation ends up causing an accident, fatalities, or a response that forces escalation. That risk is precisely what Brussels wants to contain. A group of experts The final format of the new group will be defined next week. Kallas has indicated it will comprise former political and military leaders from the member states, but it will also include Ukraine and the United Kingdom. The idea has a political dimension as well as a military one. According to Kallas, these experts “can say things that we as institutions may not be able to say.” The group aims to provide an external view of community structures and explore responses that allow Moscow’s movements to be anticipated rather than reacted to after each incident. Underlying this is the fact that Europe has significant collective military capacities, but its response to hybrid threats remains fragmented. Air defense, protection of critical infrastructure, airspace surveillance, maritime security, cyber defense, and the fight against disinformation require coordination that transcends national borders. The war in Ukraine has also shown that relatively cheap technologies—such as drones—can force the deployment of much more sophisticated and costly military resources. NATO also heightens its vigilance The reaction is not limited to community institutions. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has backed Germany and reiterated that it will bolster its ability to deter and defend allies against any threat. Secretary General Mark Rutte conveyed to Berlin the alliance’s “full solidarity” and ensured that hybrid attacks and other malicious actions will not alter NATO’s commitment to collective defense. The Russian strategy, according to European interpretation, would consist of pressing below the threshold of an open war and using a combination of tools to generate insecurity. Since the Leipzig incident, NATO aircraft have intercepted or shot down drones identified as Russian or linked to the Ukraine conflict in various European countries. Latvia, Bulgaria, and Estonia have reported episodes involving unmanned aerial vehicles. This Tuesday, the Alliance briefly deployed fighter jets again after a new drone-related incident in Estonian airspace. Romania also reported drone incursions. The border between Ukraine’s war and European territory security is becoming increasingly hard to define. Ireland’s Foreign Minister, Simon Coveney, summarized the concern by noting that threats are starting to materialize in different European countries, both in the airspace and on land. Europe prepares new sanctions against Russia’s military industry The EU’s response will also have an economic dimension. Kallas has announced work on a new sanctions package against Russia, aiming to become the largest set of measures specifically targeting Russia’s military industry. The High Representative acknowledges that current sanctions are not enough to stop Moscow’s ability to sustain its war effort. There is also a vulnerability Brussels considers especially worrisome: Russia’s military industry continues to use components from Europe, Asia, and North America. The EU therefore intends to close gaps in export controls and make it harder for Russia to continue obtaining technology and essential components for its military machinery. “It is clear that we are not doing enough to stop this,” she lamented. The EU has spent years strengthening its defenses against foreign interference, but recent events suggest the problem has ceased to be purely digital or political. The hybrid threat is beginning to take on a physical dimension. @mundiario

The German Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, has pointed to Russia as responsible for the hybrid attack carried out on August 4 with drones loaded with explosives at Leipzig airport, where authorities found several of these devices near a Ukrainian military cargo plane of the Antonov type. Dobrindt, who earlier framed these incidents in early August as part of a "hybrid attack scenario," explained at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul that investigations are still ongoing, but the information available to police and intelligence services "substantiates Russian responsibility," since the pattern of the attack is conclusive with the methods used by Moscow to carry out attacks in the context of the war in Ukraine. "We do not consider Leipzig an isolated incident, but rather view it in conjunction with other hybrid actions," Dobrindt said, adding that "Germany is not at war," even though it is a "daily target" of these hybrid attacks by Moscow. Dobrindt noted that "low-level agents" would have carried out the August 4 attempt at Leipzig airport, where a drone loaded with explosives was found on an airport infrastructure used, among other things, to support Ukraine in its defense against Russia. Subsequently, there was a collision of a second drone with a DHL cargo aircraft, and investigators discovered a third device ten days later, as well as explosives, according to German media. For his part, Wadephul announced that the Government will close the Russian Consulate General in Bonn from September 18, will terminate its agreement with the House of Russia in the capital, Berlin, and will summon the Russian ambassador. He also explained that they will propose to the European Union a new "blacklist" of people of Russian origin linked to hybrid attacks, and announced that the Executive will strengthen border controls for Russian citizens and increase pressure on the Russian phantom fleet. NATO and the EU indicated yesterday that new measures against Russia would be taken in response. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that the Alliance "will continue to strengthen our ability to deter and defend all allies against any threat, including malicious actions" such as the Leipzig attack. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stated that hybrid attacks "will not go unanswered" and reiterated that "we will keep the EU united despite this escalation." Leaders from several member states expressed solidarity with Germany, supported Berlin’s announced measures, and opened the door to coordinated EU-wide steps toward the Kremlin. RUSSIA’S RESPONSE Russia’s response was immediate. It urged Germany to present "proof" of its involvement and said it would take measures in response to Berlin’s actions. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zacharova asserted that Germany "has invented a completely implausible and devious pretext" to act against Russia.

The German Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, has pointed to Russia as responsible for the hybrid attack carried out on August 4 with drones loaded with explosives at Leipzig airport, where authorities found several of these devices near a Ukrainian military cargo aircraft of the Antonov type. Dobrindt, who had already framed these incidents at the beginning of August within a “hybrid attack scenario,” explained at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul that investigations are still ongoing, but the information available to the police forces and intelligence services “credits Russian responsibility,” since the pattern of the attack is conclusive with the methods used by Moscow to carry out attacks in the context of the Ukraine war. “We do not consider Leipzig an isolated incident, but we see it in conjunction with other hybrid actions,” Dobrindt explained, adding that “Germany is not at war,” although it is a “daily target” of these hybrid attacks by Moscow. Dobrindt noted that “low‑level agents” would have carried out the August 4 attempted attack at Leipzig airport, where a drone loaded with explosives was found at an airport infrastructure used, among other things, to support Ukraine in its defense against Russia. Subsequently, a second drone collided with a DHL cargo plane, and investigators discovered a third device, as well as explosives, ten days later, according to German media. For his part, Wadephul announced that the government will close the Russian Consulate General in Bonn from September 18, will terminate its contract with the House of Russia in Berlin, and will recall the Russian ambassador. He also explained that they will propose to the European Union a new “blacklist” of people of Russian origin linked to hybrid attacks, and announced that the government will strengthen entry controls for Russian citizens and increase pressure on the Russian phantom fleet. NATO and the EU pointed yesterday to taking new measures against Russia in response. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the Alliance “will continue to strengthen our capacity to deter and defend all allies against any threat, including malicious actions” such as the Leipzig attack. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, noted that hybrid attacks “will not go unanswered” and reiterated that “we will keep the EU united despite this escalation.” Leaders of several member states expressed solidarity with Germany, support for the measures announced by Berlin, and opened the door to coordinated community-level actions vis‑à‑vis the Kremlin. RUSSIA’S RESPONSE Russia’s response was immediate. It urged Germany to present “proof” of its involvement and said it would take measures in response to Berlin’s actions. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that Germany “has invented a completely unbelievable and untenable pretext” to act against Russia.

The German government on Tuesday blamed Russia for an attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport last month using a drone laden with explosives, and announced that it would shut down a Russian consulate among other measures. The drone was found near a Ukrainian plane on Aug. 4 and the device was defused. German officials said at the time that the incident posed a new level of danger. Moscow has been widely accused by Western officials of running a campaign of sabotage and disruption with the aim of undermining support for Ukraine and destabilizing European nations. Minister says evidence points to a familiar pattern German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said authorities found elements such as the drone configuration, components, explosives and detonator that are “known to us from other Russian hybrid operations and its war against Ukraine.” He said the device pointed to “a high degree of technical expertise” and painstaking planning, but carrying out the plan appears to have been left to “low-level” agents. Dobrindt told reporters that intelligence points to “people being involved who acted on behalf of Russian state entities,” though he didn’t specify which ones. “Taken together, the police investigations, the pattern and intelligence findings prove a Russian responsibility for the attempted attack at Leipzig airport.” Germany will shut a Russian consulate Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said that “with the attempted attack in Leipzig, the Russian leadership decided deliberately to do significant damage again to our already massively burdened bilateral relationship.” He said the Russian consulate in Bonn will be closed effective Sept. 18 and the contract under which the Russian House cultural center in Berlin is operated will be rescinded. Germany will propose the addition of more people from Russia to European Union sanctions lists “in the context of hybrid attacks,” step up entry controls for people from Russia and increase “pressure on the shadow fleet,” a reference to tankers suspected of shipping Russian oil in violation of international sanctions, Wadephul said. The E.U. has sanctioned hundreds of “shadow fleet” ships. The Russian ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in Berlin. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said there would be a “fitting response” to the planned closures, Russian state news agency Tass reported. She rejected claims of Russian involvement in the attempted drone attack, calling them a “far-fetched and contrived pretext” for Berlin to escalate tensions and arguing that “as usual, no convincing or serious evidence has been presented whatsoever.” Around 200 incidents blamed on Russia Leipzig/Halle is a major hub for international freight and for providing support to Ukraine. The planes that regularly use it include Ukrainian Antonov transport aircraft. It is also home to NATO’s Strategic Airlift International Solution, or SALIS, which is currently operational almost every day in delivering equipment to NATO battle groups along its eastern flank from Finland to Romania and supporting E.U. and alliance nation missions. In 2024, an incendiary device ignited at a logistics center at the airport and set fire to a freight container before it could be loaded onto a cargo plane, part of a plot that Western security officials suspect was organized by Russian intelligence. The Associated Press has tracked around 200 incidents of sabotage and malign activity across Europe blamed on Russia by Western officials since the invasion of Ukraine. That includes organizing plots to set fire to warehouses, launching drones and trying to kill enemies abroad as well as stealing defense technology and carrying out cyberattacks on critical European infrastructure. In May, Russian President Vladimir Putin responded to the AP findings and said Moscow is not waging a sabotage campaign against Europe. He demanded that AP “name one proven fact.” Russia has faced many packages of E.U. sanctions The E.U. has slapped almost two dozen packages of sanctions on Russia over its war in Ukraine, targeting roughly 3,000 people and entities. E.U. foreign ministers will meet in Ireland Wednesday. The head of the E.U.’s executive commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said in a post on X that “hybrid attacks will not go without a clear response.” In mid-August, the German Cabinet approved plans to give the country’s intelligence services broader powers for actions such as disabling sabotage and hacking attempts. The planned reform, which had been in the works for months, still requires parliamentary approval. Hours before Tuesday’s German statement, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who has frequently warned that Russia is carrying out a campaign of sabotage against NATO countries, said Poland has been targeted by new acts of sabotage including arson within the past “dozens of hours.” He spoke the day after a fire broke out at WB Electronics, which the Polish government has described as Europe’s biggest drone manufacturer. Prosecutors said Monday that they launched an investigation based on suspicions of the “participation of foreign intelligence activities against the Republic of Poland,” without elaborating on what country might be responsible. They said the fire at the plant in Skarżysko-Kamienna destroyed warehouse facilities and caused damage estimated at at least 15 million zlotys ($4 million).

Reuters reported that workers at Leipzig/Halle Airport in eastern Germany discovered a drone loaded with explosives and a detonator last month, and Germany has formally blamed Russia for the attack. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels on September 2, vowed to increase pressure on Moscow, including through additional sanctions. The airport serves as both a civilian freight hub and a NATO logistics base. A DHL cargo aircraft struck an unidentified object while climbing away from the airport overnight, forcing an unscheduled landing. Germany characterized the incident as part of a hybrid warfare campaign by Russia aimed at sowing division among countries backing Ukraine. Suspects Identified, Russia Summoned Germany's Envoy German media outlets Sueddeutsche Zeitung, NDR, and WDR identified two suspects connected to the plot. One is a Russian-born man holding a Latvian passport, believed to have ties to Russian intelligence. He flew into Berlin in late July, drove a rental car toward Leipzig, then left Germany by plane two days before the failed attack. The second suspect, a Belarusian national also carrying a Russian passport, reportedly entered Germany on an Italian tourist visa obtained in Minsk. Russia denied any involvement. Moscow's foreign ministry called the accusations an anti-Russian provocation and summoned Germany's senior diplomat in Moscow in response. Germany announced it would close Russia's consulate general in Bonn and terminate its arrangement with the Russian House cultural center in Berlin. EU and NATO Move to Tighten Pressure on Moscow Von der Leyen said Europe and NATO would not relent until Russia stopped its attacks on civilians in Ukraine. Rutte noted that drones and missiles had been crossing into NATO airspace along Europe's eastern flank with greater frequency. He described an overall rise in Russian malign activity across the region. The pressure is building. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc was developing sanctions targeting Russia's military-industrial complex. France's foreign minister separately called for measures against Russia's so-called shadow fleet, a network of ships accused of bypassing energy sanctions. The full scope of new restrictions had not been announced as of September 2. Broader Drone Threat Across European Airports As the Sydney Morning Herald reported, the risk from drone intrusions near civilian airports had been building for more than a year. Amsterdam's main airport was forced to suspend operations for 45 minutes roughly a year ago after drones were spotted near a passenger aircraft. That incident prompted European Union discussions about constructing a so-called drone wall to protect critical infrastructure across member states. Several EU member states summoned Russian embassy officials following the Leipzig incident. Germany's Public Prosecutor General had not immediately responded to requests for comment on the status of the criminal investigation, according to Reuters. Moscow still denies everything. Russia's denial puts it at direct odds with Germany and its allies, leaving the diplomatic fallout still unfolding as Europe weighs the next round of economic measures against Moscow.

Germany blames Russia for last month's attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport BERLIN — The German government on Tuesday blamed Russia for an attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport last month using a drone laden with explosives, and announced that it would shut down a Russian consulate among other measures. The drone was found near a Ukrainian plane on Aug. 4 and the device was defused. German officials said at the time that the incident posed a new level of danger. Moscow has been widely accused by Western officials of running a campaign of sabotage and disruption with the aim of undermining support for Ukraine and destabilizing European nations. Minister says evidence points to a familiar pattern German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said authorities found elements such as the drone configuration, components, explosives and detonator that are "known to us from other Russian hybrid operations and its war against Ukraine." He said the device pointed to "a high degree of technical expertise" and painstaking planning, but carrying out the plan appears to have been left to "low-level" agents. Dobrindt told reporters that intelligence points to "people being involved who acted on behalf of Russian state entities," though he didn't specify which ones. "Taken together, the police investigations, the pattern and intelligence findings prove a Russian responsibility for the attempted attack at Leipzig airport." Germany will shut a Russian consulate Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said that "with the attempted attack in Leipzig, the Russian leadership decided deliberately to do significant damage again to our already massively burdened bilateral relationship." He said the Russian consulate in Bonn will be closed effective Sept. 18. The Russian House cultural center in Berlin also will be closed, though that may take some time. Germany will propose the addition of more people from Russia to European Union sanctions lists "in the context of hybrid attacks," step up entry controls for people from Russia and increase "pressure on the shadow fleet," a reference to tankers suspected of shipping Russian oil in violation of international sanctions, Wadephul said. The EU has sanctioned hundreds of "shadow fleet" ships. The Russian ambassador was summoned to the foreign ministry in Berlin. Wadephul later told ARD television that "Germany can at any time show a stronger reaction, (but) that is not necessary at this point." Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said there would be a "fitting response" to the planned closures, Russian state news agency Tass reported. She rejected claims of Russian involvement in the attempted drone attack, calling them a "far-fetched and contrived pretext" for Berlin to escalate tensions and arguing that "as usual, no convincing or serious evidence has been presented whatsoever." Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed Berlin's allegations, instead claiming that Germany's leadership sought to use the incident to distract from their own failings and dissatisfaction among voters with "the need to counter an aggressive Russia." "But where is the proof? Well, the proof has been planted," Putin told reporters in the early hours of Wednesday in Kyrgyzstan, where he attended a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. He didn't elaborate on why he thinks the proof has been planted, nor did he offer evidence. Around 200 incidents blamed on Russia Leipzig/Halle is a major hub for international freight and for providing support to Ukraine. The planes that regularly use it include Ukrainian Antonov transport aircraft. It is also home to NATO's Strategic Airlift International Solution, or SALIS, which is currently operational almost every day in delivering equipment to NATO battle groups along its eastern flank from Finland to Romania and supporting EU and alliance nation missions. In 2024, an incendiary device ignited at a logistics center at the airport and set fire to a freight container before it could be loaded onto a cargo plane, part of a plot that Western security officials suspect was organized by Russian intelligence. The Associated Press has tracked around 200 incidents of sabotage and malign activity across Europe blamed on Russia by Western officials since the invasion of Ukraine. That includes organizing plots to set fire to warehouses, launching drones and trying to kill enemies abroad as well as stealing defense technology and carrying out cyberattacks on critical European infrastructure. In May, Putin responded to the AP findings and said Moscow is not waging a sabotage campaign against Europe. He demanded that AP "name one proven fact." Russia has faced many packages of EU sanctions The EU has slapped almost two dozen packages of sanctions on Russia over its war in Ukraine, targeting roughly 3,000 people and entities. EU foreign ministers will meet in Ireland Wednesday. European allies rallied around Germany after Tuesday's announcement. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said in a post on X that he had spoken with Chancellor Friedrich Merz and "NATO stands in full solidarity with Germany after the Russian hybrid attack in Leipzig." In mid-August, the German Cabinet approved plans to give the country's intelligence services broader powers for actions such as disabling sabotage and hacking attempts. The planned reform, which had been in the works for months, still requires parliamentary approval. Hours before Tuesday's German statement, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who has frequently warned that Russia is carrying out a campaign of sabotage against NATO countries, said Poland has been targeted by new acts of sabotage including arson within the past "dozens of hours." He spoke the day after a fire broke out at WB Electronics, which the Polish government has described as Europe's biggest drone manufacturer. Prosecutors said Monday they launched an investigation based on suspicions of the "participation of foreign intelligence activities against the Republic of Poland," without elaborating on what country might be responsible. They said the fire in Skarżysko-Kamienna destroyed warehouse facilities and caused damage estimated at at least 15 million zlotys ($4 million).

El ministro de Exteriores de Rusia, Serguéi Lavrov, acusó a Alemania de estar iniciando una “guerra de verdad” contra Moscú, en medio de la escalada diplomática provocada por la supuesta participación rusa en incidentes con drones registrados en agosto en el aeropuerto de Leipzig. Lavrov cuestionó que Berlín atribuyera a Rusia la responsabilidad por los hechos y sostuvo que las autoridades alemanas no realizaron una investigación suficiente antes de formular las acusaciones. El canciller ruso vinculó además las medidas adoptadas por Alemania con episodios ocurridos antes de la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Las tensiones aumentaron luego de que Alemania decidiera cerrar el Consulado General de Rusia en Bonn y cancelar el contrato que permite las actividades de la Casa Rusa en Berlín. Como respuesta, Lavrov anunció el cierre de todas las filiales del Instituto Goethe en territorio ruso. El ministro también cuestionó los planes del canciller alemán, Friedrich Merz, para reforzar las capacidades militares de su país y convertirlo nuevamente en una de las principales potencias militares europeas. Lavrov afirmó que estas políticas representan una amenaza para Rusia y acusó a las autoridades alemanas de no haber aprendido las lecciones de la historia. El Kremlin, por su parte, rechazó las imputaciones formuladas por Berlín. El portavoz presidencial, Dmitri Peskov, aseguró que las acusaciones contra Moscú carecen de fundamento y de argumentos convincentes. Peskov también cuestionó la actuación de Alemania al compararla con su respuesta frente a la explosión del gasoducto Nord Stream, señalando que Berlín no habría aplicado entonces criterios similares para responsabilizar públicamente a los presuntos autores. La controversia se originó tras una serie de incidentes registrados en agosto en el aeropuerto de Leipzig. El día 4 fue localizado un dron equipado con una carga explosiva y también se reportó la supuesta colisión de otro vehículo aéreo no tripulado con un avión de carga de DHL. Diez días después fueron encontrados un tercer aparato y explosivos. El Gobierno alemán calificó los hechos como un “ataque híbrido” y responsabilizó a Rusia. Entre las medidas anunciadas se encuentra el cierre del consulado ruso en Bonn a partir del 18 de septiembre, además del término de las actividades de la Casa Rusa en Berlín y la convocatoria del embajador de Moscú ante el Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores alemán. El presidente ruso, Vladímir Putin, también rechazó las acusaciones y afirmó que Alemania no dispone de pruebas que demuestren la responsabilidad de Moscú. Asimismo, relacionó las imputaciones con el escenario político interno alemán y las próximas elecciones. (NP-ChatGPT-Emol-Agencias)

El pasado 4 de agosto fue hallado en el aeropuerto de Leipzig, uno de los principales centros de transporte de mercancías de Alemania y utilizado también por aviones de carga ucranianos, un dron cargado con explosivos y un detonador cerca de un Antonov ucraniano; el artefacto llegó a impactar contra la aeronave, pero no llegó a detonar. Un segundo dron habría estado implicado en el incidente y un tercero fue localizado días después, el 14 de agosto, en un campo próximo al aeropuerto, donde también se encontraron unos 50 gramos de un explosivo de uso militar. Todo esto ha provocado que el ministro del Interior alemán, Alexander Dobrindt, haya señalado a Rusia como responsable del ataque fallido perpetrado el mes pasado con drones cargados de explosivos. Dobrindt ha explicado en rueda de prensa conjunta con el titular de Exteriores, Johann Wadephul, que las investigaciones llevadas a cabo por las autoridades han revelado que el patrón del ataque, incluyendo también los componentes de los aparatos y la tecnología utilizada en su detonación, es concluyente con los métodos usados por Moscú para perpetrar ataques en el marco de la guerra de Ucrania. "No consideramos Leipzig un incidente aislado, sino que lo vemos en conjunto con otras acciones híbridas", ha explicado Dobrindt, agregando que "Alemania no está en guerra", si bien es "objetivo diario" de estos ataques "híbridos" por parte de Moscú. Por su parte, Wadephul ha anunciado que el Gobierno cerrará el consulado general de Rusia en Bonn a partir del 18 de septiembre, rescindirá su contrato con la Casa de Rusia en la capital, Berlín, y convocará en protesta al embajador ruso. Asimismo, el titular de Exteriores ha explicado que propondrán ante la Unión Europea una nueva 'lista negra' de personas de origen ruso vinculadas a ataques híbridos y ha anunciado que el Gobierno reforzará los controles de entrada para ciudadanos rusos. El apoyo de Sánchez y Feijóo El presidente del Gobierno, Pedro Sánchez, ha tildado de "inaceptable" el ataque fallido perpetrado a inicios de agosto contra el aeropuerto de Leipzig, asegurando que "España apoya a Alemania de manera rotunda". Así lo ha comunicado a través de la red social 'X'. Ante el suceso vivido en Alemania, el líder del Ejecutivo ha reivindicado el "inquebrantable" compromiso de España con Ucrania. "No nos dejaremos disuadir por amenazas híbridas; nuestro compromiso con Ucrania es inquebrantable", ha advertido. En la misma línea, el ministro de Asuntos Exteriores, Unión Europea y Cooperación, José Manuel Albares, ha mostrado, también a través de un mensaje en 'X', su apoyo a Alemania "ante la amenaza híbrida rusa", avisando de que "las agresiones híbridas son un desafío permanente para Europa". "La unidad y la solidaridad de Europa son vitales para proteger a nuestros ciudadanos y fronteras. De sur a norte, de este a oeste. Unidos somos más fuertes", ha defendido Albares. Por su parte, el presidente del Partido Popular, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, ha trasladado su "apoyo" y "solidaridad" al canciller alemán, Friedrich Merz, para que adopte las medidas "oportunas" ante el ataque fallido perpetrado a inicios de agosto contra el aeropuerto de Leipzig; después de que Alemania haya señalado este martes a Rusia como el responsable de dicha ofensiva. "Todo nuestro apoyo y solidaridad, Friedrich Merz, para adoptar las medidas que estime oportunas ante el ataque híbrido ruso que han sufrido en Leipzig", ha señalado el líder 'popular' a través de un mensaje en la red social 'X'.

Brussels is considering 1,600 new sanctions targeting Russia’s military-industrial complex. AI-generated Text-to-speech The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said Wednesday that the thwarted drone attack at Leipzig-Halle Airport bore “all the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism,” after Germany blamed Russia for the incident. Speaking as the bloc’s foreign ministers gather in Wicklow, Ireland, Kallas said Germany’s attribution sent a “very strong signal” and praised EU governments for closing ranks behind Berlin. “We have already summoned the Russian ambassador, so have also many member states,” she said. “We will discuss what more can we do.” Other ministers struck an equally hard line. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot called the attack part of a “long-running attempt by the Kremlin to destabilize the European Union, its democratic processes” and weaken support for Ukraine. “We will not let an act of such gravity go without consequences,” Barrot said, adding that France would support Germany’s sanctions proposals and propose measures against additional Russian vessels. Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee said Europe had moved beyond talking simply about “hybrid threats.” “We’re talking about significant activity,” she said, accusing Moscow of a “very, very clear attempt” to divide EU governments and “put fear into citizens.” Berlin formally blamed Moscow on Tuesday for the Aug. 4 incident, in which three explosive-laden drones were detected around Leipzig-Halle Airport. Germany announced retaliatory diplomatic measures and plans to seek fresh EU sanctions. Russia denies any involvement. Kallas added that another 1,600 listings targeting Russia’s military-industrial complex were already “in the pipeline.” No decision will be made at Wednesday’s meeting. But, she said, Germany has the political backing of its EU partners. “This is the unified response that we need.” Former interior minister alleges ex-PM asked her to interfere in police staffing. Her comments come after U.S. forces struck Iranian positions near Larak Island on Sunday. Stefan Thumann’s warning lands as Berlin hardens its stance on suspected sabotage by Kremlin operatives. “Any further provocation” could trigger “an unnecessary escalation in our relations,” Brussels said.

MOSCOW, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Russia's embassy in Germany said on Tuesday that German allegations that Russia was responsible for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle airport last month were an absurd and baseless provocation which stood to benefit Ukraine, the militaristic wing of the Europe's elite, and arms makers. The German government said on Tuesday it had concluded that Russia was to blame for the incident and ordered a series of measures in response, including the closure of a consulate and a Russian cultural centre in Berlin. Sign up here. Russia's embassy in Germany said in a statement that the measures amounted to an unprecedented escalation. "The Russian ambassador categorically rejected the accusations levelled by Berlin as unsubstantiated, absurd and contrary to common sense," the embassy said. "He pointed out that the measures announced by the German side represent an unprecedented escalation in Russian-German relations and will not remain without consequences, for which the German Government will bear full responsibility." Reporting by Reuters Editing by Andrew Osborn Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Brussels/Berlin, September 2 (Reuters) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen today, Wednesday, vowed to step up pressure on Russia, including by imposing new sanctions, following an attempted drone attack on Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany, which she said demonstrated Moscow's increasing recklessness. Airport workers found last month a drone packed with explosives and a detonation device at the airport, which is an important hub for civilian air cargo and NATO logistical operations in eastern Germany, and also a base for several giant Ukrainian Antonov An-124 cargo planes. Registration to subscribe here. Germany has accused Moscow of the attack, describing it as part of a multi-pronged war intended to intimidate and sow divisions in countries that supported Ukraine after the full-scale invasion in 2022. Russia denies participation and says it will respond to what a Foreign Ministry spokesperson called a ‘hostile act against Russia.’ Von der Leyen said in Brussels after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, ‘Europe and the Alliance will not simply keep pressuring Russia; we will intensify the pressure relentlessly until Russia stops bombing and killing innocent children and men and women in Ukraine.’ She added, ‘Europeans face the hard truth that this is the new normal. We must raise our level of response, which means being ready to respond to Russia’s recklessness quicker and better.’ The full scope of the new sanctions has not yet been clarified. Cathy Calas, EU foreign policy chief, said the bloc is working on sanctions related to the Russian military complex. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian also urged actions against what he called the Russian ‘shadow fleet’ of ships accused of bypassing sanctions on the energy sector. Stoltenberg noted that more drones and missiles have entered NATO airspace on the eastern side of Europe, and that malicious activity including in Leipzig has increased. He said, ‘If Russia thinks the division among us will be broadcast because of this threat, or if it thinks we will refrain from supporting Ukraine, it is mistaken.’ Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, at a meeting of foreign ministers in Ireland, stated, ‘It is clear that Russia does not see the political cost of its hybrid activities against us. So this is the cheap way for them to provoke tensions in our society.’ Prepared by Hatem Ali for the Arabic News Desk – edited by Moad Abdulaziz. Our standards: the trust principles of Thomson Reuters.

FRANKFURT, Sept 2 (Reuters) - German police were on Wednesday investigating a second sabotage attempt on the electricity grid within 24 hours, a day after Berlin blamed Russia for an attempted drone attack at an airport. The incidents come at a sensitive moment, with the far-right Alternative for Germany(AfD) - which wants closer German ties with Moscow - topping polls before a state election this weekend, and Berlin facing a growing threat of hybrid warfare. Sign up here. The government said on Tuesday it had concluded that Russia was behind the attempted drone attack on a Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig/Halle airport last month - an incident which European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Wednesday bore all the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism. Moscow says there is no evidence to support the accusations that it was behind the attack, but German authorities are on high alert for attacks on vital infrastructure. 'PREMEDITATED VANDALISM' Local police said they were investigating an act of premeditated vandalism on the technical infrastructure of a power substation near the western city of Bergheim at 1800 GMT on Tuesday. A police spokesperson declined to specify the damage but said the region's power supply was not affected. Electricity grid operator Amprion, which is majority-owned by Germany's largest power producer RWE (RWEG.DE), said it was likely that external interference caused the incident and that power supply and grid stability were upheld throughout. RWE said in a separate statement that the incident had prompted five lignite power plant units with 4,200 megawatts (MW) in combined capacity to go off the grid. One of the affected blocks covering 600 MW has been reconnected, the company said. SABOTAGE ON EASTERN POWER GRID Also on Tuesday, devices carrying conductive material damaged power lines at one of the most critical high-voltage nodes in the eastern state of Brandenburg. Brandenburg's interior minister, Jan Redmann, said there appeared to be parallels between the attacks but that investigations were at a very early stage. He said there were some differences between the Brandenburg attack and a 2024 arson attack by far-left extremists targeting the power supply of Tesla's (TSLA.O) German plant, but he could not rule out any suspects. Alexander Throm, who heads German parliament's domestic affairs committee, told Reuters the number of disruptive incidents before this weekend's election in the state of Saxony-Anhalt was "extremely suspicious". Opinion polls suggest the AfD, an anti-immigrant party with strong support in the east, could win power for the first time at state level. The party has called for an end to German support for Ukraine and a resumption of energy agreements with Moscow that provided Germany with cheap oil and gas until supplies were halted in 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine. Leonhard Birnbaum, CEO of Europe's largest network operator E.ON (EONGn.DE), said last month that full protection of grid infrastructure was illusory, adding operators could make it as hard as possible for perpetrators but not fully avoid attacks. Calling for better protection, Redmann said: "Just a few weeks ago, we were discussing our airports at length; now, the focus has shifted back to energy supply facilities." Reporting by Ludwig Burger and Christoph Steitz, writing by Miranda Murray, editing by Tom Hogue and Thomas Seythal Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

BRUSSELS/BERLIN, Sept 2 (Reuters) - European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen vowed on Wednesday to increase pressure on Russia, including with new sanctions, after an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany that she said showed Moscow's growing "recklessness". Airport workers last month found a drone laden with explosives and a detonator at the airport, an important civilian freight and NATO logistics hub in eastern Germany that is also a base for several giant Ukrainian Antonov An-124 cargo planes. Sign up here. Germany blamed Moscow for the attack, characterising it as part of hybrid warfare meant to intimidate and cause divisions in countries that have rallied around Ukraine since Russia's 2022 invasion. Russia denies involvement. It says it will respond to what its foreign ministry spokesperson called "anti-Russian action", and summoned Germany's top diplomat in Moscow. "Europe and NATO will not just maintain our pressure on Russia; we will increase it, and we will not stop - not until Russia stops bombing and killing innocent children, men and women in Ukraine," von der Leyen said in Brussels after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. "Europeans are faced with the hard truth that this is the new normal. We have to step up, and that means being ready to respond to Russia's recklessness faster and better." The full scope of new sanctions was not immediately clear. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc was working on sanctions related to Russia's military complex, and France's foreign minister called for action against Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" of ships accused of circumventing energy sanctions. Rutte said more drones and missiles had crossed into NATO airspace on Europe's eastern flank, and there was an increase in malign activities including the Leipzig attack. "If Russia thinks we will be divided by the threat, or if they think we will be deterred from supporting Ukraine, they are mistaken," he said. The EU and several EU member states summoned Russian embassy officials. Germany said it would close Russia's consulate general in Bonn and terminate its agreement with the Russian House cultural centre in Berlin. TWO SUSPECTS IDENTIFIED, MEDIA OUTLETS SAY Details of two Leipzig attack suspects were reported by German media outlets Sueddeutsche Zeitung, NDR and WDR. Investigators have identified the logistics coordinator and instructor behind the attack, the outlets reported. The man, Russian-born but holding a Latvian passport, was believed to have ties to Russian intelligence, they said. He is thought to have flown into Berlin in late July and driven a rental car towards Leipzig. Two days before the failed drone attack, the suspect left Germany by plane, they reported. The second suspect was a man from Belarus who also holds a Russian passport and is thought to have entered the country on an Italian tourist visa obtained in Minsk, the outlets said. Germany's Public Prosecutor General did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Russia also did not immediately comment further on the case. GERMANY PROBES SABOTAGE CASES As the EU prepared its response, Germany was grappling with two new suspected sabotage cases within 24 hours. In the first, authorities were investigating vandalism at a substation in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) that prompted lignite power plant units with 4,200 megawatts (MW) in combined capacity to go off the grid. In the other, also on Tuesday, devices carrying conductive material damaged power lines at one of the most critical high-voltage nodes in the eastern state of Brandenburg. NRW's interior minister said the work of foreign powers or left-wing extremists could not be ruled out. Brandenburg's interior minister, Jan Redmann, said there appeared to be parallels between the attacks but that investigations were at an early stage. The incidents come at a sensitive time as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which calls for closer ties to Moscow, is topping polls before a state election this weekend. Lawmaker Alexander Throm, an interior policy expert from Germany's ruling conservatives, said it was striking that such incidents were occurring before elections. "The clear goal is to unsettle the public. Of course, that is a goal shared not only by Russia but also by others, such as left-wing extremists," Throm told Reuters. Additional reporting by Bart H. Meijer, Padraic Halpin, Conor Humphries, John Irish, Dominique Vidalon, Charlotte Van Campenhout, Lili Bayer, Christoph Steitz, Matthias Inverardi and Miranda Murray; Writing by Matthias Williams; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Timothy Heritage Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Berlin, September 6 (Reuters) - A spokesperson for Germany's Interior Ministry said today, Sunday, that Berlin plans to adopt a broad package of measures to bolster its defenses against drone attacks, cyber intrusions, and other forms of Russian sabotage, following a failed drone attack on the airport last month. Here are some details: Subscribe here. - Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told Bild am Sonntag that Russia's multi-pronged attacks have become part of daily reality. The paper quoted him as saying, 'These attacks will increase, but we are capable of defending ourselves and protecting our people.' - Russia consistently denies accusations that it carries out operations in Western Europe, and denied involvement in the attack on the German airport. Russian state news agency TASS quoted Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying that these accusations mark the 'start of a real war.' - A spokesperson for the Interior Ministry said that police mobile capabilities will be expanded to counter drones as part of the plan, with rapidly deployable units stationed to confront drones in cities to protect airspace over vital transport hubs and government areas. - Companies that operate critical infrastructure, such as power facilities and manufacturers of defense equipment, will be given legal authority not only to monitor drones but also to effectively counter them. - A national protective shield, or what is known as the 'cyber dome,' will be created, including a network of digital sensors designed to detect and intercept cyberattack attempts. - The government also intends to broaden the use of AI-powered technologies, biometric-based facial recognition, and video surveillance, for example in railway stations, to identify suspected attackers planning to commit acts of sabotage. Prepared by Ahmed Hisham for the Arabic bulletin - edited by Ruhab Alaa. Our standards: Tomson Reuters trust principles.

Alemania apunta a Rusia por el ataque con un dron con explosivos en el aeropuerto de Leipzig Alemania responsabiliza a Rusia por el “ataque híbrido” perpetrado con un dron cargado de explosivos a principios de agosto en el aeropuerto de Leipzig, una plataforma clave para el ejército alemán, la OTAN y el apoyo logístico a Ucrania, afirmó el martes 1 de septiembre el ministro del Interior alemán. El incidente presenta “las características de un acto de terrorismo respaldado por un Estado”, estimó este miércoles la jefa de la diplomacia europea, Kaja Kallas. Primera modificación: Casi un mes después de los hechos, Berlín señala a Moscú. “En general, las investigaciones policiales, los modus operandi y la información de los servicios de inteligencia demuestran la responsabilidad rusa en el intento de atentado en el aeropuerto de Leipzig”, declaró el ministro del Interior de Alemania, Alexander Dobrindt, en una breve declaración. El canciller, Friedrich Merz, había prometido una respuesta firme; y esta ya llegó, explica nuestro corresponsal en Berlín, Pascal Thibaut. Este miércoles 2 de septiembre, la jefa de la diplomacia europea, Kaja Kallas, anunció que convocaría al encargado de negocios ruso en Bruselas y consideró que los hechos presentaban “las características de un acto de terrorismo respaldado por un Estado”. En la noche del 4 al 5 de agosto, se descubrió un dron cargado de explosivos en la zona de seguridad de las operaciones de carga del aeropuerto, cerca de varios aviones de carga ucranianos, y al parecer un segundo dron chocó contra un avión de carga de DHL unos minutos después. Según los medios de comunicación, que se basan en fuentes cercanas a las autoridades, diez días después se encontró un tercer dron al oeste del aeropuerto. En el lugar se halló una sustancia que podría corresponder a unos 50 gramos de hexógeno, un explosivo militar muy potente. Un patrón “bien conocido de las operaciones híbridas rusas en Europa” El ministro respaldó su acusación señalando que los “medios de acción observados se inscriben en el patrón bien conocido de las operaciones híbridas rusas en Europa”. “La configuración de los drones” y el uso de “diversos componentes, explosivos y dispositivos de detonación” remiten a “otras operaciones híbridas llevadas a cabo por Rusia y a su guerra contra Ucrania”, precisó. La tecnología utilizada y “la interacción de los distintos elementos deben calificarse de profesionales y revelan un alto nivel de pericia técnica, así como un esfuerzo organizativo considerable”, continuó Alexander Dobrindt. Si bien la ejecución final del “intento de atentado” recayó en agentes denominados “desechables”, estos actuaron “bajo órdenes de las autoridades estatales rusas”, acusó además el ministro conservador. Berlín, que destaca su coordinación con sus socios de la Unión Europea y la OTAN, ya no quiere conformarse con la expulsión de diplomáticos rusos como en el pasado. El ministro de Relaciones Exteriores, Johannes Wadephul, anunció el cierre, a mediados de septiembre, del consulado ruso en Bonn y de la casa de la cultura de ese país en Berlín, acusada de espionaje. También se impondrán sanciones individuales contra ciudadanos rusos. Alemania quiere intensificar su presión contra la flota fantasma rusa que le permite a Moscú eludir las sanciones contra las exportaciones de petróleo.

EU summons Russian envoy, eyes sanctions after Germany drone 'attack' Wicklow (Ireland) (AFP) – The EU on Wednesday said it had summoned Russia's top diplomat as it eyed sanctions after a drone incident in Germany that the bloc's foreign policy chief said bore the marks of "state-sponsored terrorism". Issued on: The incident involving an explosive-laden drone at Leipzig airport has heightened fears over a sabotage campaign that the EU and NATO say is a Russian attempt to destabilise Ukraine's backers. "It is clear that it has all the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said at the start of a meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers in Ireland. "The question is, what do we do about this?" Kallas said that the EU had summoned the Russian envoy, and member states were doing the same. "We will not let an act of such gravity go unpunished," French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said, adding he had summoned Russia's envoy in Paris. Kallas said that EU foreign ministers would discuss ongoing work to impose sanctions on 1,600 individuals and entities linked to Russia's military industry. "Seeing these hybrid attacks across Europe, I think these are also wake-up calls for the countries who have not been so strong, maybe on this," she said. "If we want to end this war, we all have to focus our efforts. Take it to a new level." Germany blamed Moscow for the Leipzig incident on Tuesday and said it was shutting a Russian consulate and ending the contract for a cultural centre in Berlin. Russia's President Vladimir Putin in televised comments later branded those moves "another mistake, a serious one", saying it "clearly runs counter to the interests of the German people". 'Live with the consequences' Germany's foreign minister Johann Wadephul said there was a "large number of people who can now be sanctioned in addition. "Russia has escalated, Russia has carried out this hybrid attack, and now Russia must live with the consequences," he said, speaking from Ireland. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Europe had to face "the hard truth that this is the new normal. "We do not seek conflict with Russia, but Russia seems to be at hybrid war with us," said Polish top diplomat Radoslaw Sikorski. "We are no longer in regular peacetime." Speaking in the Netherlands, French President Emmanuel Macron said the incident was proof that Russia was "waging a hybrid war" against Europe. But while the level of rhetoric is being ramped up -- some said that Europe's response has failed to match its strong words. Lithuania's foreign minister Kestutis Budrys called for more to be done to increase the punishment for Moscow over its actions. "We have to consider what options we have in our hands and respond, because it is obvious Russia does not see the political cost of the hybrid activities against us," he said. "They will neither prevent us from supporting Ukraine nor maintaining our pressure on Russia. On the contrary, we have to increase this pressure." Discussion has resurfaced on whether the bloc should tap some 200 billion euros ($235 billion) of frozen Russian central bank assets to fund Ukraine. "I think this this is a fair approach to start serious discussion how we could use immobilised frozen assets," said Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga. The EU last year failed to agree a plan to employ the Russian funds, and instead came up with a 90 billion euro loan off its own back. But there is already a sense that the loan will not be enough for the two years it was intended to keep Kyiv afloat. © 2026 AFP

The European Union has summoned Russia's top diplomat in Brussels over an attempted "hybrid attack" involving an explosive-laden drone at a German airport last month. "We are discussing the Leipzig attacks, and also it is clear that it has all the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism. "The question is, what do we do about this? We have already summoned the Russian ambassador," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said at the start of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Co Wicklow this morning. She described the incident as "a wake up call" and said "the question is what do we do about this", and that there is "definitely" a need to further discuss additional sanctions. Ms Kallas said the attacks - including a number of others in eastern and Balkan areas of Europe, are "a wake up call" for some EU member states, and stressed the need for a "unified response" from the EU. The attempted attack marks a new escalation on European soil and will only strengthen the EU's resolve to increase pressure on Russia, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. "This was an attack using military grade material, carried out by Russian operatives on European Union soil," Ms von der Leyen told reporters in Brussels, adding that there could have been a loss of life had it succeeded. "Europe and NATO will not just maintain our pressure on Russia. We will increase it and we will not stop." Ms Von der Leyen said the incident was part of "a broader pattern of increasingly dangerous incidents". "Europeans are faced with a hard truth that this is the new normal," she said. "We have to step up." NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte echoed Von der Leyen's views, adding that Russia had grown "increasingly reckless." 'Hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism' in drone incident - Kallas Speaking at the gathering in Wicklow, Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee said potential Russian threats are "not just hybrid threats now" and that there is a need to discuss "how we respond to this type of activity". Ms McEntee said the Leipzig airport incident, and similar incidents in Estonia, Romania and Latvia in recent months, are "a very, very clear attempt by Russia to try and divide" the EU. Earlier, Ms McEntee described Russia's alleged involvement in the drone attack as an attempt to "divide" EU views on the war in Ukraine. Ms McEntee said: "Russia's attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport is part of a clear trend. "Russia is attempting to divide us and weaken our support for Ukraine. It will not succeed," she said. Today's meeting in Druids Glen will also involve a discussion on what economic supports Ukraine will need into winter. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said intelligence findings indicated that individuals involved in the attack on 4 August were acting on behalf of Russian state agencies. "Taken together, police investigations, patterns of the offences and intelligence findings establish Russian responsibility for the attempted attack at Leipzig Airport," he said. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Germany did not view Leipzig as an isolated incident. "It fits into a broader pattern of Russian hybrid operations in Europe," he said. In response to the attack, Mr Wadephul said Germany would take a series of measures, including closing Russia's consulate general in Bonn and terminating its agreement with the Russian House cultural centre in Berlin. Germany will also push within the European Union for additional sanctions listings and travel restrictions on Russian nationals, while increasing pressure on Russia's "shadow fleet", he said. Russia said it was summoning Germany's charge d'affaires to protest what it called "anti-Russian actions". It described Germany's allegations as unsubstantiated and "absurd". We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences "On September 2, Germany's charge d'affaires in Moscow ... was summoned to the Russian foreign ministry amid yesterday's anti-Russian actions and statements by the German authorities," said Russia's foreign ministry. Russian President Vladimir Putin called the sanctions announced by Germany against Russia over a drone incident "another mistake," suggesting the restrictions were aimed at currying favour with voters. "I think it's another mistake, a serious one," Mr Putin said during a press conference broadcast by the Russian Tass news agency. "And in my view it clearly runs counter to the interests of the German people." Russia's embassy in Germany said that the German allegations were an absurd and baseless provocation which stood to benefit Ukraine, the militaristic wing of the Europe's elite, and arms makers. The embassy said in a statement that the measures amounted to an unprecedented escalation. "The Russian ambassador categorically rejected the accusations levelled by Berlin as unsubstantiated, absurd and contrary to common sense," the embassy said. "He pointed out that the measures announced by the German side represent an unprecedented escalation in Russian-German relations and will not remain without consequences, for which the German Government will bear full responsibility." Separately, EU member state foreign ministers will later debate what sanctions the EU could impose on Israel over the conflict in Gaza, as well as what position the EU should take in the ongoing US-Iran stand-off over the Strait of Hormuz. The discussions come as 11 member states this week wrote to Ms Kallas to say future foreign policy decisions should be decided by a simple majority to avoid any single member state blocking potentially controversial moves. The member states - Austria, Denmark, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain and Sweden - are understood to have decided to act after the initial blocking of funding for Ukraine by the former Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán last year. Separate issues including the EU's relationship with US President Donald Trump are also likely to be discussed. In addition, following on from yesterday's defence meetings, there is also likely to be further discussion on a potential future arrangement for Ireland to join the British and EU Joint Expeditionary Force in the north Atlantic and Arctic circle designed to counter potential Russian moves. The Wicklow meeting will be attended by a number of non-EU member state guests. They include British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, and his counterparts from Ukraine, Canada, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Šekerinska is also attending the informal summit. The number of non-EU member state guests is the highest in more than a decade, underlining the increased emphasis on international alliances in uncertain global times.

Germany accuses Russia of the drone attack in Leipzig and closes the last Russian consulate general in the country - Berlin states that the device fits the pattern of Russian hybrid operations - Moscow warns: it will respond to “all anti-Russian actions,” but does not specify what type of retaliation The German government formally held Russia responsible on Tuesday for the attempt to attack Leipzig/Halle Airport with a drone loaded with explosives on August 4, and announced the closure of the last Russian consulate general still operating in the country, in Bonn. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the federal government concludes that “Russia is responsible for the hybrid attack carried out in Leipzig.” He explained that the drone’s configuration, its components, and the explosive used, together with the conclusions of the German intelligence services and their partners, match the pattern of previous Russian hybrid operations in Europe. “We condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia’s drone attack attempt at Leipzig Airport. Russia must stop its war of aggression against Ukraine, instead of escalating it. The EU stands in full solidarity with Germany,” wrote European Council President Charles (Antonio) Costa after learning the news. In similar terms, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez commented. “Russia’s hybrid attack against Leipzig airport in August is unacceptable, and Spain strongly supports Germany. We will not be dissuaded by hybrid threats; our commitment to Ukraine is unbreakable,” he stressed. The device, equipped with explosives and a detonator, was found near a Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig/Halle Airport, an important logistics and freight hub. German authorities disabled it. Germany will close the Russian House in Berlin In response, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul ordered the closure of the Russian Consulate General in Bonn on September 18. He will also rescind the agreement that allows the Russian House in Berlin, a cultural center run by a Russian state agency, to operate. The Russian ambassador has been summoned to the Foreign Office to be informed of the decisions. Berlin will also push, together with its European Union partners, for new sanctions against Russia, stricter entry controls for Russian citizens, and stronger pressure on the so-called shadow fleet that transports Russian oil. Wadephul emphasized that Germany will maintain its civilian and military support to Ukraine. Moscow’s response has not been delayed. The Russian Foreign Ministry warned, according to Interfax, that Russia will respond to “all anti-Russian actions,” though it did not specify what measures it would take or when. The Russian embassy in Berlin had already rejected suspicions about the incident in early August, calling it a “fabricated provocation” and an episode of “anti-Russian hysteria.” Russian President Vladimir Putin said these decisions are a new mistake by Germany. He linked the German authorities’ accusations to falling popularity of European authorities and, in particular, to Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s situation. “The chancellor is in a politically difficult position. He does not enjoy the trust of his citizens. And the reason is clear: because he does not defend national interests,” the Kremlin head said at the end of his participation in a summit in Kyrgyzstan. Putin argues that the economic errors of German authorities are “evident.” “Companies are closing, people are losing their jobs, and the standard of living is falling. It’s not clear why all this is being done. It can only be explained by the need to counter a threatening Russia,” the Russian leader asserted. Germany’s Interior Minister has said that Germany is not “at war,” but it is a “daily target of hybrid warfare” and warned that these actions threaten critical infrastructure, defense companies, and European support for Ukraine. He also said Berlin expects further attempts to cause significant damage. When drones cross the NATO border Leipzig comes after a string of air incursions that exposed vulnerabilities on the Alliance’s eastern flank, though not all of them have the same nature. On September 10, 2025, more than twenty drones from Russia penetrated Polish airspace during an attack on Ukraine. Warsaw requested NATO consultations under Article 4 and allied air defenses were activated. The Polish government considered it a provocation, while the Alliance refrained from stating whether the entry was intentional. In Romania, the risk ceased to be only a breach of airspace last May. A Geran-2 Russian drone with explosives hit a block of apartments in Galați and injured two people. Romania’s technical report determined the drone’s Russian origin and Bucharest held Moscow responsible. It was the first such incident causing casualties on Romanian territory since the start of the invasion of Ukraine. The latest alert came this Tuesday in Estonia, but with a different attribution. The Estonian Defence Forces confirmed that drones used by Ukraine in an attack on Russian targets briefly entered their airspace. Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur noted that the incident, the latest in a series recorded in recent months, reinforces the need to supply more air defenses to Ukraine. The distinction is relevant: the incursions into Poland and Romania occurred during Russian attacks against Ukraine, while the Estonia episode stems from a Ukrainian operation against Russian territory. Germany, however, does not present Leipzig’s incident as a deviation or cross-border incursion, but as an attempted sabotage of critical logistics infrastructure on its own soil. The formal attribution to Moscow thus elevates the incident to a different phase of Russia’s hybrid pressure on Europe.

The EU calls the Russian hybrid attack in Leipzig “state-sponsored terrorism” - German media identify two suspects; one is said to have entered with a visa issued by Italy - Kallas ensures there is broad support to restrict visas for Russian citizens The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, on Wednesday, at the end of the EU informal meeting of foreign ministers in Ireland, called for restricting visas for Russian citizens. She did so after German media reported that one of the suspects in the drone attack attempt at Leipzig/Halle airport had entered the Union with a tourist visa issued by Italy in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. “If true — and it is up to the German authorities to confirm or deny — it clearly shows that visas are a tool used by people who intend to harm the European Union,” she said. Earlier, upon arrival at the meeting in the Irish town of Newtownmountkennedy, she described the alleged Russian hybrid attack as “state-sponsored terrorism” and asked: “The question is, what will we do about it?” Kallas expressed hope that, if German information is confirmed, the case will convince member states that have so far opposed moving forward with new restrictions, though she did not specify which countries she was referring to. She also explained that this issue had been addressed during the meeting, and that there is “broad support,” though because it was an informal meeting, it was not intended to adopt binding decisions. “It is not right that Russia bombs Ukraine and kills civilians while, at the same time, Russians enter and enjoy the hospitality of European countries,” she added. Leipzig: “It is not an isolated incident” Kallas reiterated in the press conference that what happened in Leipzig “is not an isolated incident,” and she assured that attempts to intimidate Europe will fail. She noted that Moscow has made it clear with its ongoing attacks against Ukraine that it does not seek peace, so the immediate priority remains to provide Kyiv with the means to defend itself. The Estonian emphasized that the EU had already summoned the Russian representative before the EU institutions and had contacted several member states to study new measures. She also indicated that 1,600 proposals for inclusion on sanctions lists of persons and entities linked to the Russian military-industrial complex were being processed, with more possibly added. Coordinating European response, responding more quickly to hybrid actions, and increasing pressure on Moscow to end the war against Ukraine have been other requests made by Kallas. Berlin takes measures and Moscow threatens to respond The German government had formally accused Russia on Tuesday of being behind the attack attempt. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated that the drone’s configuration, its components, the explosive used, and the intelligence gathered by security services fit the pattern of previous hybrid operations attributed to Moscow. In response, Berlin ordered the closing of the last Russian consulate general still open in Germany, located in Bonn, by September 18. It also announced the end of the agreement allowing the Russian House in Berlin to operate, new entry controls for Russian citizens, and additional measures against the phantom fleet. Moscow denies any involvement. On Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the German chargé d’affaires and described the accusations as “fabricated” and a “provocation.” President Vladimir Putin stated that the supposed evidence was planted and accused the German government of trying to divert attention from its internal problems. Russia has warned it will respond, though it did not specify how. Von der Leyen and Rutte pledge more pressure on Russia Before the ministers’ meeting ended, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described what happened in Leipzig as an attack carried out by Russian agents, using military-grade material on European Union territory. “Europe and NATO will not only maintain our pressure on Russia. We will intensify it and we will not stop,” she said in Brussels alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Von der Leyen argued that the incident marks a new escalation in a pattern of increasingly dangerous actions and called for a faster response. Rutte, for his part, accused Russia of acting “increasingly recklessly” and said that the threats will not divide the allies or curb their support for Ukraine. France has also summoned the Russian representative in Paris and called for new sanctions against the so-called phantom fleet with which Moscow evades restrictions on its energy exports. Meanwhile, Spanish President Pedro Sánchez, while not announcing measures as broad as France’s, described the August Russian hybrid attack on Leipzig airport as “unacceptable” and asserted that Spain stands firmly with Germany. “We will not be deterred by hybrid threats; our commitment to Ukraine is unwavering,” he emphasised. The sabotage attempt The attack dates back to the night of August 4–5, when an employee found in the airport’s security zone at Leipzig/Halle a drone equipped with explosives and a detonator near a Ukrainian cargo aircraft. Bomb technicians removed the detonator, and air traffic was interrupted for two hours. German media reported that a second drone could have struck shortly after a DHL cargo plane that had aborted its landing due to the airport closure. On August 14, investigators located another device with explosives in a field near the airfield. Leipzig/Halle is one of Europe’s major freight transport hubs and a logistical enclave used to support Ukraine. Germany has presented the episode as a deliberate action on its territory, not as an accidental incursion or a detour of devices used in attacks against Ukraine. Germany investigates two other possible cases Meanwhile, German authorities are investigating two incidents at electrical substations that occurred within 24 hours, though there is currently no proven link to Russia or to the Leipzig attack. In Bergheim, near Cologne, cables laid across high-voltage lines caused short circuits and temporarily knocked five lignite power plant units, with a combined capacity of 4,200 megawatts, off the grid, without causing a regional blackout. In Brandenburg, several devices damaged power lines near a high-voltage node considered critical, also without widespread power outages. The investigations are in an early stage. Authorities do not rule out involvement by a foreign actor or participation by left-wing extremist groups, as explained this week.

What happened? Early August, a drone loaded with explosives had been found in the secured cargo operations area at Leipzig-Halle Airport, near several Ukrainian cargo planes, and a second device would have struck a DHL cargo plane a few minutes later. The device found near a Ukrainian cargo plane had been neutralized by a police robot. According to the German press, another drone had been discovered later near the airport, also with traces of explosive substances. The technology used and the “interaction of the different elements” must be described as professional and reveal a high level of technical expertise as well as considerable organizational effort, said the German Interior Minister. The airport, located in eastern Germany, plays a leading role in the transport of military equipment, especially for the German army and NATO allies, and also serves as a base for the Ukrainian aircraft manufacturer Antonov. Who is behind this attack? The shadow of the Kremlin hangs over the incident, according to the German Ministers of the Interior and Foreign Affairs, Alexander Dobrindt and Johann Wadephul, who spoke jointly. “Overall, police investigations, operational methods, and intelligence services’ information demonstrate Russian responsibility in the attempted attack at Leipzig airport,” said Alexander Dobrindt, speaking first. While the final execution of the “attempted attack” involved so-called disposable agents, they acted “on the orders of Russian state authorities,” he asserted. In a Telegram post, the Russian ambassador to Germany, Sergei Nechayev, described Berlin’s “accusations” as “baseless, absurd, and contrary to common sense,” adding that sanctions constitute “an unprecedented escalation of Russo-German relations and will not be without consequences.” Vladimir Putin, for his part, sees in these accusations “a new gross error” that “clearly runs counter to the interests of the German people.” Is this type of attack frequent? “We do not regard the Leipzig incident in isolation but as part of the context of other hybrid actions,” said Alexander Dobrindt. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, in February 2022, Germany and several other European states regularly attribute to the Kremlin destabilization, espionage, and sabotage operations on their soil. On Tuesday, an artisanal explosive device damaged several power lines near a power plant in eastern Germany, police announced without giving further details about the suspects. Faced with increasing threats, the German government presented in mid-August a broad reform of its intelligence services, granting them expanded powers. What sanctions will Germany take? Germany announced on Tuesday retaliatory measures against Russia. First, it will close on September 18 the last Russian consulate on its territory, in Bonn, and the Russian cultural center in Berlin, also called the “Russian House,” announced Johann Wadephul. This building, constructed in East Berlin in 1984 near the Russian embassy, would serve, according to deputy Roderich Kiesewetter, as a platform for Russian spies. According to him, more than 100 people live there “without anyone knowing who they are,” and the building’s electricity consumption is abnormally high. Berlin had maintained the status quo so far due to the bilateral contract with the Goethe Institute in Moscow. Germany will also propose listing new people of Russian nationality on European sanctions lists. Johann Wadephul further promised to “increase pressure on the Russian ghost fleet,” referring to a group of aging ships with opaque legal status that Russia uses to circumvent Western sanctions. And now? The Leipzig incident has the characteristics of a state-backed terrorist act, said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell’s counterpart in the EU, Kaja Kallas, on Wednesday. The EU announced the summoning of the Russian chargé d’affaires in Brussels to protest this new “hybrid” attack. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, present in Ireland for a meeting of EU counterparts, also announced that he had summoned the Russian ambassador in Paris. Gathered on Wednesday in Wicklow, near Dublin, EU foreign ministers will discuss “what more we can do,” Kaja Kallas said on this point. Several of them see in the resurgence of hybrid attacks a desire to fracture European unity in their support for Ukraine.

Retaliation measures under consideration Within Chancellor Friedrich Merz's coalition, according to Spiegel, several retaliation measures against Moscow have been debated in recent days. These sanction options include expelling new Russian diplomats, closing the last Russian consulate still open in Bonn, or closing the Russian House of Science and Culture in Berlin, suspected of housing Russian spies in the heart of the German capital. A NATO invocation under Article 4, which calls for a meeting of alliance members when one believes its territorial integrity, independence, or security is threatened, was also discussed, according to the same source. A week earlier, Chancellor Friedrich Merz had warned that Germany would make those responsible for hybrid attacks "pay for their actions" after press revelations that drones were used in the alleged attack on Leipzig airport, a key transit point for military aid shipments to Ukraine in its war against Russia. So far, Berlin had refrained from blaming Russia, only mentioning a possible involvement of "foreign powers." Moscow regularly rejects such accusations. Details of the Leipzig operation According to information from Süddeutsche Zeitung as well as public broadcasters NDR and WDR, the Leipzig operation could have been far more extensive than initially known. In early August, a drone loaded with explosives was found in the secured cargo operations area of the airport, near several Ukrainian cargo planes, and a second device reportedly struck a DHL cargo aircraft a few minutes later.

- At the beginning of August, two drones had been found at Leipzig airport, at least one loaded with explosives. - After several weeks of investigation, Berlin formally accuses Moscow of being behind the operation. - The EU and NATO immediately expressed their solidarity in the face of what is now regarded as a Russian hybrid attack. Germany holds Russia responsible for the hybrid attack carried out, according to them, with a drone loaded with explosives at the Leipzig airport in early August, a key platform for the German army, NATO, and the logistical support to Ukraine, said German Interior Minister on Tuesday, August 31. "Overall, police investigations, modus operandi, and intelligence services’ information demonstrate Russian responsibility for the attempted attack at Leipzig airport," said Alexander Dobrindt in a brief statement. Following this, the German Foreign Ministry, represented by Johann Wadephul, announced the closure of the country’s last Russian consulate in Bonn and a Russian cultural center in Berlin. Earlier in the day, the newspapers Bild and Spiegel had reported that Germany was about to formally designate Moscow as responsible for the Leipzig hybrid attack, after the investigation had gathered enough elements to that effect. Until now, Berlin had only talked about the possible involvement of foreign powers. The Kremlin had reacted at the time of the discovery, denouncing a Ukrainian provocation. The President of the European Commission immediately reacted, stating that the EU stood "fully alongside" Germany in the face of "Russia’s attack." "We will maintain the EU’s unity despite these grave and increasingly frequent acts," Ursula von der Leyen argued on X (formerly Twitter). The NATO Secretary General also expressed the Alliance’s "total solidarity" and pledged that it would defend its members against "any threat" following this hybrid attack on German soil. "Russia’s attempts to intimidate us, to undermine our unity and our support for Ukraine are futile and will fail," added Mark Rutte in a post on X. For his part, Emmanuel Macron recalled that "France is fully alongside Germany," and announced that France "supports the adoption of new European sanctions against Russia." In the face of this escalation, we must be united, determined, and strengthen our support for Ukraine. France will continue to do its part," the French president concluded on X. Early in the evening, the Russian ambassador to Berlin condemned the measures of retaliation announced by Germany. In a statement published on the embassy’s Telegram channel, Sergei Naryshkin called Berlin’s accusations "unfounded, absurd, and contrary to common sense," adding that the sanctions constituted "an unprecedented escalation in Russo-German relations and will not be without consequences." When asked at a press conference, Vladimir Putin said the German sanctions announced were "a new mistake." Also read Explosive drone at Leipzig airport: Russia denounces a "pretextual provocation" and accuses Ukraine On the night of August 4–5, a drone loaded with explosives had been found in the secured freight operations area of Leipzig airport, in the country’s east, near several Ukrainian cargo aircraft, and a second device reportedly struck a DHL cargo plane a few minutes later. According to information from several German media outlets, the Leipzig operation could have been much more extensive than initially known. A third drone was found ten days later to the west of the airport, according to these sources, and a substance possibly corresponding to about 50 grams of hexogen, a very powerful military explosive, was found on site.

Germany's Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul speak to the media during a press conference in Berlin on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, about the attempted attack on Leipzig/Halle Airport last month with a drone loaded with explosives. BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union on Wednesday weighed how best to respond to an attempted drone attack at a German airportblamed on Russiabut struggled to find new ways to meet the challenge without resorting to military means. The German government said Tuesday that Russia was responsible for the failed attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport on Aug. 4 using adrone laden with explosivesand announced it would shut down a Russian consulate among other measures. Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. LoginSubscribe

Morning opening: EU holds talks on response to Leipzig attack Jakub Krupa EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Russia’s attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport last month “had all the hallmarks of state sponsored terrorism,” as she prepares to lead talks on the bloc’s political reaction. Kallas will host today’s informal talks between EU foreign ministers in Wicklow, Ireland, focusing on “what more we can do” after Germany formally blamed Russia for last month’s security incident. She said the incident should serve as a “wake-up call” for those countries that have been dragging their feet on further sanctions against Russia. “If we want to end this war, we all have to focus our efforts, take it to a new level,” she said. Separately, the EU and France have summoned top Russian officials to protest against the attack. Kallas said the discussions will also look at how the EU can further help Ukraine when “Russia is escalating and killing the civilians and causing as much harm as they can.” Later today, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will separately meet with Nato’s Mark Rutte,with the Leipzig incident and Ukraine also set to dominate their talks. I will bring you all the details here. Elsewhere, Dutch prime minister Rob Jetten will host French president Emmanuel Macron today, who is then expected in Britain for talks with PM Andy Burnham. It’s Wednesday, 2 September 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live. US ambassador to Nato Matthew Whitaker offered the US solidarity with Germany “in the face of efforts to cause harm and chaos on Nato territory” – but without naming the country or party behind these efforts. “The United States stands in solidarity with Germany and all Allies in the face of efforts to cause harm and chaos on Nato territory. We remain committed to Nato’s collective defense and clear-eyed about the need for Allies to increase their capabilities to deter all threats to the Alliance.” Alexander Throm, who heads German parliament’s domestic affairs committee, told Reuters the number of disruptive incidents before this weekend’s election in the state of Saxony-Anhalt was “extremely suspicious“. Opinion polls suggest the AfD, an anti-immigrant party with strong support in the east, could win power for the first time at state level. The party has called for an end to German support for Ukraine and a resumption of energy agreements with Moscow that provided Germany with cheap oil and gas until supplies were halted in 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine. Germany steps up probe into Brandenburg substation incident German police have opened a investigation into yesterday’s attempt to disrupt the operation of a power substation near Brandenburg. In a statement, Brandenburg police said they were leading a probe on suspicion of attempting to disrupt public services, causing an explosion and damaging critical infrastructure as well as forming a terrorist organisation Searches around the substation continue. “Further information cannot be released at this time in order not to jeopardise the ongoing investigation,” it said. There is currently no indication of who could be behind the incident, with Germany on high alert over possible Russian sabotage, but also due to previous activity of suspected left-wing militants. Germany's move to blame Russia for Leipzig drone incident 'a grave mistake,' Putin says Meanwhile, Russian president Vladimir Putin said the German decision to attribute the drone attack to Russia was “a grave mistake,” as he attempted to question the evidence behind the decision. He also suggested that Berlin was blaming Russia to distract from its own domestic problems. Former president Dmitry Medvedev lashed out against the German government on Telegram, accusing it of “neo-Nazi, rabidly Russophobic” policy and saying “they deserve a direct strike against all German facilities manufacturing military hardware” for Ukraine. In an angry outburst on Telegram, Medvedev also appeared to suggest that a train carrying European leaders to Kyiv could become a target for Russian strikes if Ukraine were to follow through on its warnings about closing skies above Russia. “Every act of terror has its sponsors. At present, that’s the leaders of western nations, primarily European ones, and they frequently travel to Kyiv by train,” he said. Italy not opposed to using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, minister says Lorenzo Tondo in Palermo After the EU said it was seriously considering using frozen Russian assets to support Kyiv following the hybrid drone attack in Germany, Italy’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, said on Wednesday Rome was not opposed to the idea, joining countries including the Netherlands, Spain and Poland. “We’re not opposed in principle, but we need to see whether there is a legal basis for doing so,” Tajani told state news agency Ansa, referring to calls from some countries to confiscate frozen Russian assets and use them to help Ukraine. “The issue has always been that there may be legal problems with taking such action. We have discussed it many times, both within the European Union and in other international forums, and no decision was taken precisely for this reason – not for political reasons, but legal ones,” he added. Tajani also warned that Russia could try to influence Italy’s general election next year, and contests in other countries such as France, Poland, and Spain. “It cannot be ruled out that there may be attempts to influence elections in countries where voting is taking place,” he said on arrival at an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Wicklow, Ireland. “I’m convinced it could happen, which is why we need to act early,” Tajani said, adding that Italy was already monitoring cyber threats and other possible forms of Russian interference. Restarting talks on frozen Russian assets 'a fair approach,' Ukrainian minister says Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said on Wednesday it was a “fair approach” to renew talks on using Russian frozen assets for Ukraine. “I think this is a fair approach to start serious discussion how we could use immobilised frozen assets,” Sybiha said at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Ireland, quoted by Reuters. Four European Union countries – the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden – earlier this month urged the EU to reopen discussion on using Russia’s frozen assets for Ukraine. Russia's attempts to divide Europe will fail, UK's Miliband says Britain’s foreign secretary Ed Miliband is also taking part in today’s talks in Ireland. “We see an attempt by Russia to divide us in Europe and to deter us from our support for Ukraine. And I say very clearly today, on behalf of the United Kingdom, this attempt will fail.” He says that the UK “will stand shoulder to shoulder with our friends with Ukraine,” as it has since the full-scale invasion in 2022. He says the UK knows Russia’s tactics “from the past Russian attacks on our soil,” and “these attempts to divide us will not work.” Russia 'must live with consequences' of its actions, German minister says Wadephul says he is “impressed by the strong European support” for Berlin’s decision to attribute the Leipzig attack to Russia, with “a great deal of unity” from colleagues. “It is very important that Russia clearly sees that Europe stands together,” he says. He says Russia “must understand” that its approach will not work. He says the German decision to attribute the attack to Russia was “a well-founded opinion and judgment.” “Russia must now live with the consequences,” he says, pointing to “necessary and appropriate response” proposed yesterday. Wadephul says that in the coming weeks the EU will be working on expanding its sanctions, which would target “a large number of individuals.” Let’s go back to Wicklow and listen to German foreign minister Johann Wadephul, who will be briefing his EU counterparts today on the latest in the Leipzig investigation and Berlin’s reasoning for formally naming Russia as responsible for the attempted drone attack. Germany investigating suspected attempt to disrupt power grid at another substation Separately, German police are also investigating another attempt to disrupt the country’s energy grid, this time at a electricity substation in Bergheim in the west of the country. A local police spokesperson said they are “not assuming a technical failure but a deliberate act,” without revealing more details. The region’s power supply was not affected. Again, like with yesterday’s incident at a substation near a coal-fired power plant in Brandenburg, the issue of attribution here is not straightforward. AFP notes that German authorities are on high alert for attacks on vital infrastructure after Berlin blamed Russia for an attempted drone attack on a Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig/Halle airport last month and ordered a series of measures in response. But Germany’s electricity grid has been hit by attacks before, including by suspected left-wing militants. Two people injured after an explosion near Augsburg train station Two people were injured after an unknown object exploded near a train station in the southern German city of Augsburg. A separate suspicious object was later found nearby, prompting police to temporarily suspend train services and close the station. But, and that’s an important caveat, local media are reporting that the incident may be linked to organised crime rather than anything else, though authorities are yet to confirm a motive. Morning opening: EU holds talks on response to Leipzig attack Jakub Krupa EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Russia’s attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport last month “had all the hallmarks of state sponsored terrorism,” as she prepares to lead talks on the bloc’s political reaction. Kallas will host today’s informal talks between EU foreign ministers in Wicklow, Ireland, focusing on “what more we can do” after Germany formally blamed Russia for last month’s security incident. She said the incident should serve as a “wake-up call” for those countries that have been dragging their feet on further sanctions against Russia. “If we want to end this war, we all have to focus our efforts, take it to a new level,” she said. Separately, the EU and France have summoned top Russian officials to protest against the attack. Kallas said the discussions will also look at how the EU can further help Ukraine when “Russia is escalating and killing the civilians and causing as much harm as they can.” Later today, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will separately meet with Nato’s Mark Rutte,with the Leipzig incident and Ukraine also set to dominate their talks. I will bring you all the details here. Elsewhere, Dutch prime minister Rob Jetten will host French president Emmanuel Macron today, who is then expected in Britain for talks with PM Andy Burnham. It’s Wednesday, 2 September 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.

German authorities have identified two suspects in connection with an attempted drone attack on Leipzig/Halle Airport last month, according to new reports. One Russian national from Belarus and a Russian-born Latvian national are suspected to have been responsible, according to the newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung , which collaborated on the report with broadcasters NDR and WDR. It underpinned allegations by the German government, which believed that Russia had been behind the incident, resulting in a series of orders being issued in response including the closure of a consulate and a Russian cultural centre in the country. Russia's foreign ministry summoned Germany's charge d'affaires in Moscow on Wednesday to reject what it called "entirely fabricated" accusations that Russia was behind the attempted attack. “Berlin has deliberately engaged in a blatant provocation aimed at escalating tensions in Russian-German relations. The German authorities' actions will be met with a firm response,” the ministry said in a statement. German chancellor Friedrich Merz reiterated Berlin’s support for Ukraine in the aftermath of the warning, with a government spokesperson saying: “The chancellor emphasised that Ukraine can count on the resolute continuation of Germany's civilian and military support.” Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chair of Russia’s security council wrote on Telegram that Germany’s leadership “deserve a direct strike on all German military equipment production facilities ... and quite possibility on several other locations in Berlin as well”. He ominously added: “Every terror has sponsors. At the moment, these are the heads of Western countries, primarily European ones. And they often travel to Kyiv by train...” On Tuesday, President Vladimir Putin dismissed the accusations as baseless and accused Berlin of planting evidence to frame Russia. Putin went further to accuse German chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government of trying to diver attention away from its domestic problems and declining approval ratings. He alleged that Berlin sought to paint Russia as a hostile state. “The Russian ambassador categorically rejected the accusations levelled by Berlin as unsubstantiated, absurd and contrary to common sense,” said foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova on Tuesday. “He pointed out that the measures announced by the German side represent an unprecedented escalation in Russian-German relations and will not remain without consequences, for which the German government will bear full responsibility.” Nato secretary general Mark Rutte welcomed Germany’s response, saying the evidence pointing towards Russian responsibility “was clear”. “Nato will continue to strengthen our ability to deter and defend all Allies against any threat – including malign actions like those seen in Leipzig and elsewhere across the Alliance,” he wrote on X after a call with Chancellor Merz. “Russia’s attempts to intimidate us, to undermine our unity and our willingness to support Ukraine are futile and will fail. Our support to Ukraine is unwavering, as is our ironclad commitment to Nato’s collective defence.” Mr Rutte is due to meet with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to discuss the issue on Wednesday. The EU’s top diplomat said that the drone incident had the “hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism”. She added: “Attempts to intimidate Europe will fail.” Germany is now expected to push the European Union for additional sanctions and travel restrictions on Russian nationals. The incident on 5 August was brought to light when airport workers discovered the drone in a restricted cargo area near the southern runway and in the immediate vicinity of a Ukrainian Antonov cargo plane. The runway was closed while specialists examined the object using explosives-disposal technology and several aircraft had to be diverted from the airport as a result of the incident.

The attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany had all the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism, the European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Wednesday, adding that Europe needs to coordinate on what more can be done given the escalation of Russia's attacks on Ukraine. Speaking ahead of an informal gathering of European foreign ministers in Ireland, Kallas also said that work is ongoing on 1,600 sanctions listings related to Russia's military complex and "maybe there are more to be added." European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen vowed to increase pressure on Russia, especially after the attempted attack at Leipzig that she said showed Moscow's growing "recklessness." Airport workers last month found a drone laden with explosives and a detonator at the airport, an important civilian freight and NATO logistics hub in eastern Germany that is also a base for several giant Ukrainian Antonov An-124 cargo planes. Russia denies involvement in Leipzig incident Germany blamed Moscow for the attack, characterizing it as part of hybrid warfare meant to intimidate and cause divisions in countries that have rallied around Ukraine since Russia's 2022 invasion. Russia denies involvement. It says it will respond to what its foreign ministry spokesperson called "anti-Russian action," and summoned Germany's top diplomat in Moscow. "Europe and NATO will not just maintain our pressure on Russia; we will increase it, and we will not stop - not until Russia stops bombing and killing innocent children, men and women in Ukraine," von der Leyen said in Brussels after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. "Europeans are faced with the hard truth that this is the new normal. We have to step up, and that means being ready to respond to Russia's recklessness faster and better." The full scope of new sanctions was not immediately clear. Kallas said the bloc was working on sanctions related to Russia's military complex, and France's foreign minister called for action against Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" of ships accused of circumventing energy sanctions. Rutte said more drones and missiles had crossed into NATO airspace on Europe's eastern flank, and there was an increase in malign activities including the Leipzig attack. "If Russia thinks we will be divided by the threat, or if they think we will be deterred from supporting Ukraine, they are mistaken," he said. The EU and several EU member states summoned Russian embassy officials. Germany said it would close Russia's consulate general in Bonn and terminate its agreement with the Russian House cultural center in Berlin. Two suspects identified in Leipzig attack investigation Details of two Leipzig attack suspects were reported by German media outlets Sueddeutsche Zeitung, NDR and WDR. Investigators have identified the logistics coordinator and instructor behind the attack, the outlets reported. The man, Russian-born but holding a Latvian passport, was believed to have ties to Russian intelligence, they said. He is thought to have flown into Berlin in late July and driven a rental car towards Leipzig. Two days before the failed drone attack, the suspect left Germany by plane, they reported. The second suspect was a man from Belarus who also holds a Russian passport and is thought to have entered the country on an Italian tourist visa obtained in Minsk, the outlets said. Germany's Public Prosecutor General did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Russia also did not immediately comment further on the case. Germany probes sabotage cases As the EU prepared its response, Germany was grappling with two new suspected sabotage cases within 24 hours. In the first, authorities were investigating vandalism at a substation in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) that prompted lignite power plant units with 4,200 megawatts (MW) in combined capacity to go off the grid. In the other, also on Tuesday, devices carrying conductive material damaged power lines at one of the most critical high-voltage nodes in the eastern state of Brandenburg. NRW's interior minister said the work of foreign powers or left-wing extremists could not be ruled out. Brandenburg's interior minister, Jan Redmann, said there appeared to be parallels between the attacks but that investigations were at an early stage. The incidents come at a sensitive time as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which calls for closer ties to Moscow, is topping polls before a state election this weekend. Lawmaker Alexander Throm, an interior policy expert from Germany's ruling conservatives, said it was striking that such incidents were occurring before elections. "The clear goal is to unsettle the public. Of course, that is a goal shared not only by Russia but also by others, such as left-wing extremists," Throm told Reuters.

BERLIN: Two incidents that disrupted power distribution systems in the west and east of Germany are being invested as possible sabotage, authorities said. Multiple explosive devices were found Tuesday morning at a substation near the Jänschwalde coal-fired power plant in Brandenburg in northeast Germany. No general power outage resulted, but a few of the devices caused short circuits, authorities said. Separately, a short circuit that caused several power lines to go out of service Tuesday evening at the Bergheim power substation near Cologne in western Germany appeared to be a deliberate act, police said, adding there was no general power outage. "Based on the current state of the investigation, we are not assuming a technical defect, but rather a deliberate act, a crime," the Essen police said of the Cologne outage, according to German press agency dpa. RWE, a company operating coal power plants that utilize the Bergheim substation, said five coal-fired units with a combined capacity of 4,200 megawatts were taken offline and are expected to be working again by the weekend. German power infrastructure has previously been affected under similar circumstances. Suspected left-wing extremists set fire to high-voltage lines near a power plant in southwest Berlin in January. The country is on high alert after the German government on Tuesday blamed Russia for an attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport on Aug. 4 using a drone laden with explosives. Brandenburg Interior Minister Jan Redmann suggested possible foreign involvement, telling German media that authorities "cannot rule out any perpetrators" in Tuesday's attack. "This is a hybrid threat we are currently experiencing, and therefore we cannot rule out the possibility that foreign powers are behind it," Redmann said, according to dpa.

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Germany now holds Russia responsible for the attempted hybrid attack using a drone loaded with explosives, in early August, at Leipzig airport. This is what Alexander Dobrindt, the German interior minister, said at a joint press conference with his foreign affairs colleague, Johann Wadephul, on Tuesday, September 1. "Overall, police investigations, operational methods, and intelligence services' information demonstrate Russian responsibility in the attempted attack at Leipzig airport," he stated during a brief remarks. According to him, the facts show a level of "expertise and substantial means" consistent with methods already observed in other hybrid operations attributed to Russia in Europe and within the framework of the war in Ukraine. The German government notes in particular that those involved acted on behalf of Russian state entities, without specifying which ones. Drone loaded with explosives In the night of August 4-5, a drone loaded with explosives was discovered in the secure area of the airport’s cargo operations, near several Ukrainian cargo airplanes. About twenty minutes later, a DHL cargo aircraft may have struck a second drone, which is still being debated by investigators. A third drone was reportedly found ten days later to the west of the airport, according to media citing sources close to authorities. Initial analyses revealed the presence of PETN and Semtex, two extremely powerful explosives. A detonator was also found. According to details of the investigation reported by several German media, the detonator had detached, preventing the explosion. Part of the airport’s traffic was temporarily suspended and some flights redirected. Leipzig Airport is an important logistics platform for military transport and support to Ukraine, notably via aircraft of the Ukrainian company Antonov Airlines. Sanctions in Germany "I have ordered the following measures, in agreement with the Federal Chancellor [Friedrich Merz]: the Russian General Consulate in Bonn [the country’s last Russian consulate] will be closed by September 18. The contract of the Russian House in Berlin will be terminated," Wadephul announced on Tuesday. This cultural center is regularly accused of serving Kremlin propaganda and suspected of being used as cover by Russian intelligence services. Germany will also propose adding new people of Russian nationality to European sanctions lists. The German foreign minister also promised to "intensify pressure on the Russian phantom fleet," a set of clandestine ships (oil tankers and LNG carriers) used by Moscow to export its hydrocarbons and circumvent international sanctions. Berlin will also strengthen entry checks targeting Russian nationals and has summoned the Russian ambassador to Germany. Russia, which denies any involvement and claims that the evidence presented by Berlin was fabricated, reacted strongly to these measures. For the Russian ambassador to Germany, Sergei Nechaev, these measures constitute "an unprecedented escalation of Russian-German relations" and "will not be without consequences." Vladimir Putin, for his part, linked Berlin’s reaction to the upcoming election campaigns. "Hybrid attacks will not go unanswered" European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X that the European Union is "fully in solidarity with Germany in the face of this Russian attack." And she added: "we will maintain EU unity despite these serious and increasingly frequent acts, [...] the message is clear: hybrid attacks will not go unanswered." The President is set to address this topic today at a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. While additional sanctions are to be prepared by foreign ministers at a forthcoming meeting, said the European Union’s executive head. On Wednesday, European foreign policy chief, Kadri Simson, had already hardened the tone, saying the attempted attack had "all the characteristics of state-sponsored terrorism." France, for its part, summoned the Russian chargé d’affaires in Paris to "protest very strongly" against the "hybrid attack" attributed to Russia, announced Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot. The same solidarity from the Atlantic Alliance. "The evidence is conclusive" and "Russia’s attempts to intimidate us, undermine our unity and our will to support Ukraine are in vain and will fail," reiterated Mark Rutte on X. A surge in hybrid attacks? Since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, several European states have regularly blamed Moscow for destabilization, espionage, and sabotage on their soil. In recent months, alerts related to drones and sabotage of infrastructure have also increased in Europe. On Tuesday, Estonia reported a drone incursion on its territory, while several improvised explosive devices were found near a coal-fired power plant in Germany. Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur summed it up on the sidelines of an informal meeting of European defense ministers: "they [the Russian authorities] are testing the limits of Article 5 [the principle of collective defense in case of an attack against one NATO member], seeking to know where the thin red line lies."

France today expressed its full solidarity with Germany following Berlin's confirmation of Russia's responsibility for the serious incidents that occurred at Leipzig Airport at the beginning of last August. In a statement issued by the spokesperson for the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Paris confirmed that, in light of Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine and the intensification of hybrid activities in Europe, France will continue to contribute effectively to shaping and implementing robust responses to confront these actions. The statement stressed the need to maintain unity and readiness in the face of ongoing Russian escalation. The ministry noted that France, in cooperation with its partners and allies, will work to strengthen its support for Ukraine's independence and sovereignty, alongside backing the imposition of new sanctions against Moscow to undermine its war effort and halt its hostilities. It also pledged to continue strengthening states and democratic communities against attempts to destabilize them and against hybrid threats. In this context, and based on directives from the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Russian Embassy in Paris was summoned to the ministry (Place de l’Arc-de-Triomphe area) to protest these developments.

Germany announced on Tuesday, September 1, retaliatory measures against Russia, officially accused of having sent an explosive drone to Leipzig airport at the beginning of August, a key military platform for the German army and NATO. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul addressed the media during a press conference in Berlin on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, about the attempted attack that occurred last month at Leipzig-Halle airport using an explosive-laden drone. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and his foreign affairs counterpart Johann Wadephul announced on Tuesday, September 1, a series of retaliatory measures against Russia, accused of orchestrating this drone-attack operation at Leipzig airport in early August. 'Overall, police investigations, modus operandi, and intelligence service information show Russian responsibility in the attempted attack at Leipzig airport,' said Alexander Dobrindt. In retaliation, Berlin will close the last Russian consulate on its soil, located in Bonn in the west of the country, starting September 18, as well as the Russian cultural center in Berlin, also called the 'Russian House,' clarified Johann Wadephul, the foreign minister. Berlin will also propose adding new Russian nationals to the European Union sanctions lists, and promises to 'increase pressure on the Russian ghost fleet,' a set of aging ships with opaque legal status that Moscow uses to bypass Western sanctions on its oil exports. In the night of August 4–5, an explosive-laden drone was found in the secured cargo operations area at Leipzig airport, near several Ukrainian cargo planes. A second device is said to have struck a DHL cargo aircraft a few minutes later. The device found near the Ukrainian cargo plane was neutralized by a police robot. Ten days later, a third drone was found to the west of the airport, also with traces of explosive substances that could correspond to about 50 grams of hexogen, a very powerful military explosive, according to sources close to authorities. 'We do not regard Leipzig’s incident as isolated but as part of a broader context of hybrid actions,' said the Interior Minister. Since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, Germany and several other European states have regularly attributed to the Kremlin destabilization, espionage, or sabotage operations on their soil. On Tuesday, an improvised explosive device damaged several power lines near a thermal power plant in eastern Germany, police announced, without giving further details about suspects. In Leipzig, the technology used and 'the interaction of the various elements must be described as professional and reveal a high level of technical expertise as well as a considerable organizational effort,' the Interior Minister added. While the final execution of the 'attempted attack' involved so-called 'throwaway' agents, they acted 'under orders of Russian state authorities,' he claimed. The airport, located in eastern Germany, plays a major role in transporting military equipment, especially for the German armed forces and NATO allies. It also serves as a base for the Ukrainian aircraft manufacturer Antonov. Without directly naming Moscow, Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned last week the authors of hybrid attacks against Germany that they would 'pay the price.' By mid-August, the German government presented a wide-ranging reform of its intelligence services, granting them expanded powers amid rising threats on German soil. The debate quickly centered on closing the House of Russian Science and Culture, a building erected in the former East Berlin in 1984, near the Russian embassy. In an interview on private channel Welt TV, Conservative MP Roderich Kiesewetter asserted that this establishment served as a platform for Russian spies. According to him, more than 100 people live there 'without knowing who they are,' and the building’s electricity consumption is abnormally high. Berlin had so far preferred the status quo due to the bilateral contract with the Goethe Institute in Moscow. The European Union stands 'fully' by Germany, wrote European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on X. NATO will 'continue to strengthen its capacity to deter and defend all Allies against any threat,' promised its Secretary General, Mark Rutte. London, Warsaw, and Tallinn also congratulated Berlin on its response. In France, President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday he is 'fully in solidarity with Germany' and affirmed that Paris 'supports the adoption of new European sanctions against Russia.' 'These hybrid attacks are multiplying in Europe. They cannot go unanswered,' he said on X.

Ukraine is ready to help Germany with expertise, experience, and other assistance over an alleged Russian drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday. "Friedrich (Merz) briefed me on the measures taken. For my part, I assured him that Ukraine is ready to help–with expertise, experience, or in other areas where Germany may need it," Zelenskyy wrote on X, after a meeting with the German Chancellor. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, meanwhile, pledged further sanctions against Russia and said the European Union was prepared to close loopholes that Moscow exploits. "We will not tolerate it. We stand in full solidarity with Germany," she said during a joint press conference held with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Brussels on Wednesday. The remarks came after Germany on Tuesday blamed Russia for an attempted drone attack at the airport last month. German authorities said a drone carrying explosives and a detonator was found Aug. 4 near an area where Ukrainian cargo aircraft operate. German media also reported that authorities had identified two Russian men allegedly linked to the planned sabotage. Leipzig/Halle Airport is a major freight hub and NATO logistics point that also hosts several Ukrainian Antonov An-124 cargo planes. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned that Russia was becoming "increasingly reckless," citing a rise in drones and missiles crossing allied airspace along NATO’s eastern flank, as well as alleged Russian activities targeting NATO territory. "We have seen more drones and missiles crossing into our airspace along our eastern flank, creating increased risk," Rutte said during the joint news conference in Brussels. Separately, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the alleged plot as "state-sponsored terrorism" and said she had summoned Russia’s envoy in Brussels. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described the Leipzig incident as a "hybrid attack scenario" that represented "a new level of danger." "The incident and the technology did not point ‘to an amateurish approach. We are dealing here with a professional hybrid threat scenario," Dobrindt told journalists at Leipzig/Halle Airport, where police found, defused and later destroyed the drone. German officials said investigators had determined that Russian intelligence services planned the operation and that low-level operatives carried it out. Berlin also said the method and organization resembled previous Russian hybrid operations. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Germany of planting evidence to blame Moscow for the attempted attack, while the Russian Embassy in Berlin called the allegation "absurd." Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned that Moscow would respond in a "mirror-image" manner to Germany’s measures. Hours after the EU summoned the Russian envoy, Russia also summoned Germany’s charge d’affaires to protest "anti-Russian actions."

The United Kingdom, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia summoned representatives from the Russian embassies over the incident at Leipzig Airport. The countries thus expressed solidarity with Germany, which accused Russia of involvement in the attack. The United Kingdom, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia summoned representatives of Russian diplomatic missions following the incident at Leipzig Airport. In doing so, the countries joined Germany’s response and demonstrated solidarity with Berlin. This refers to an attack that German officials link to Russia. Berlin views the incident as a possible Russian hybrid operation. For European countries, this situation has become yet another reason to pay attention to Russia’s actions beyond the immediate front lines in Ukraine. In EU and NATO countries, there is increasing talk of cyberattacks, sabotage, disinformation, and other forms of hybrid influence. Summoning a diplomat is one of the common ways to formally lodge a protest with another country. During such a meeting, a diplomatic note may be handed to the country’s representative, or the government’s position may be communicated. Lithuania handed Russia two notes of protest Lithuania reacted particularly strongly to the situation. The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned a representative of the Russian embassy and handed him two notes of protest. The first concerned the incident in Leipzig. The second was related to the continuation of Russian attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine. The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry stated that Russia must cease actions that pose a threat to European states. Vilnius also emphasized that it stands ready to respond to such attempts alongside its allies. “All of Russia’s attempts to weaken the common policy of deterrence and resolve to support Ukraine are doomed to failure,” the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry stated. Vilnius also emphasized that any attempts by Russia to carry out hybrid attacks against European states will be met with a response. Lithuania believes that such actions should be viewed not as isolated incidents, but within the broader context of Russia’s policy of exerting pressure on European countries. A second note mentioned the strike on Kyiv Separately, Lithuania reminded Russia of the attack on Kyiv and the Kyiv region on September 1. According to data cited by the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry, 12 civilians were killed in that attack. Vilnius called on Moscow to end the war against Ukraine. The Lithuanian side also demands the withdrawal of Russian occupation forces from the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine. In other words, Lithuania’s diplomatic protest concerned more than just the events in Germany. The country’s authorities used a meeting with a representative of the Russian embassy to separately remind Moscow of the ongoing war against Ukraine. For Lithuania, these issues are directly linked to the security of Europe itself. The country shares a border with Russia via the Kaliningrad Oblast and also borders Belarus, which is a military ally of Moscow. Therefore, Vilnius is closely monitoring any actions by Russia that could pose additional risks to the Baltic states and other NATO countries. Why Is Europe Talking About Hybrid Attacks? In recent years, European governments have increasingly used the term “hybrid attacks.” These refer to actions that do not necessarily take the form of a direct military strike. They may include cyberattacks, sabotage, attempts to damage critical infrastructure, information campaigns, election interference, or other actions aimed at destabilizing a state. A distinctive feature of such operations is that it can be more difficult to immediately link them to a specific country. Perpetrators may act through intermediaries, and the operation itself may combine several different tools. European countries have recently made repeated statements about the growing number of such threats from Russia. Countries located closest to the Russian and Belarusian borders are monitoring the situation particularly closely. It is in this context that Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are responding particularly actively to suspicious incidents. For the Baltic states, security issues are of particular importance due to their geographic location and proximity to Russia. Why Diplomats Are Summoned to Russia Summoning a representative from a foreign embassy is an official diplomatic signal. A country can use this method to inform another country of its outrage or disagreement with certain actions. Most often, a note of protest is handed to the representative during the meeting. The document formally records the state’s grievances and demands. Such a step does not automatically mean a severing of diplomatic relations. It is a much milder tool, but at the same time a clear way to demonstrate that a country considers certain actions unacceptable. In the case of Leipzig, the diplomatic protests also carry political significance. Several European states have effectively coordinated their response and demonstrated support for Germany. This is important in light of future EU and NATO policy. Countries are trying to show that potential hybrid attacks will not remain merely a bilateral issue between Russia and an individual European state. What Is Germany’s Position? Germany has become one of the countries most actively warning about Russian hybrid threats. Berlin attributes to Russia a series of actions that may be aimed at destabilizing Germany and other European countries. It was precisely because of the German government’s stance that the incident in Leipzig garnered international attention. Other countries decided to express their support for Berlin through diplomatic channels. At the same time, the specific circumstances of the attack and evidence of its possible connection to Russia must be established by law enforcement agencies. That is why it is important to distinguish between confirmed facts, government statements, and the results of the investigation in reports about the incident. For European countries, it is of fundamental importance to determine who was behind the attack and what its purpose was. If Russia’s involvement is confirmed, this could serve as grounds for further diplomatic or other measures. What This Means for Europe The coordinated response by the United Kingdom, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia shows that European states are taking potential Russian hybrid operations increasingly seriously. This is especially true for countries on NATO’s eastern flank. Poland and the Baltic states regularly warn of the risks posed by Russia and Belarus. For them, it is important to prevent a situation where individual incidents are perceived as random and unrelated. That is precisely why governments are exchanging information, strengthening the protection of critical infrastructure, and coordinating their response. At the same time, diplomatic protests do not signal the start of direct military confrontation. They are, first and foremost, a political and diplomatic message to Russia that its actions are under close scrutiny by European nations. The next steps will depend on the results of the investigation into the incident in Leipzig and on whether new evidence of Russia’s possible involvement is uncovered. For now, the United Kingdom, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have already expressed their support for Germany, and Lithuania has additionally used diplomatic channels to condemn Russia’s continued aggression against Ukraine. This was reported in statements issued by the foreign ministries of these countries. German investigators have identified two suspects in the planning of an attack on a Ukrainian passenger plane at Leipzig Airport, uncovering links between their actions and Russia. It should be noted that Berlin is prepared to officially hold Russia responsible for the attempted drone attack in Leipzig. Germany is also considering the possibility of imposing direct sanctions against Russian entities. Specifically, the Russian Consulate General in Bonn will be closed, the agreement regarding the “Russian House” in Berlin will be terminated, Berlin will propose new lists of individuals from Russia to the European Union for sanctions in the context of hybrid attacks and will tighten entry controls for Russian citizens. Germany has also announced that it will increase pressure on Russia’s “shadow fleet.” Read us on Telegram and Sends

The Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) reported that it had uncovered concrete evidence of Russian intelligence services recruiting Danish citizens through social media and gaming platforms. Russia’s main objective is to prepare acts of sabotage against the European defense industry, particularly Danish companies involved in production and logistics in support of Ukraine. Counterintelligence officials note that civilians recruited in this way may initially be tasked with gathering data or photographing infrastructure facilities, which is later used to plan acts of sabotage. The Russian side traditionally denies the allegations and links security risks to Denmark to its military-technical assistance to Ukraine. The Danish intelligence statement comes amid a general increase in the number of hybrid operations in Europe, including an investigation into an attempted drone attack at the Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany. Source: Reuters. German investigators have identified two suspects in the planning of an attack on a Ukrainian passenger plane at Leipzig Airport, uncovering a link between their actions and Russia. It should be noted that Berlin is prepared to officially hold Russia responsible for the attempted drone attack in Leipzig. Germany is also considering imposing direct sanctions against Russian entities. Specifically, the Russian Consulate General in Bonn will be closed, the agreement regarding the “Russian House” in Berlin will be terminated, Berlin will propose new lists of individuals from Russia to the European Union for sanctions in the context of hybrid attacks and will tighten entry controls for Russian citizens. Germany has also announced that it will increase pressure on Russia’s “shadow fleet.” Read us on Telegram and Sends

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the drone incident at Germany’s Leipzig/Halle Airport as an attack carried out by Russian intelligence operatives using military-grade materials on European Union territory, Deutsche Welle reported on September 2. Speaking in Brussels ahead of a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, von der Leyen said the EU would not tolerate such actions and expressed full solidarity with Germany. She said that if Russia had intended the incident to make European countries reconsider their support for Ukraine, it had instead strengthened their determination to continue backing Kyiv. Von der Leyen described the alleged sabotage operation in Leipzig as a new escalation on EU territory directly linked to Russia and said it formed part of a broader pattern of increasingly dangerous incidents. The European Commission president also pledged that the EU would not only maintain pressure on Moscow but intensify it until Russia ends its war against Ukraine and its attacks on civilians. According to von der Leyen, the bloc intends to counter hostile Russian activities regardless of whether they occur inside or outside the EU. She added that the EU was prepared to respond with sanctions whenever Russian responsibility for such actions was established. Von der Leyen also pledged to close loopholes used by Russia to circumvent existing restrictions. She said additional sanctions against Moscow were being discussed during an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Ireland. Her remarks follow Germany’s formal attribution to Russia of the attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport. German authorities have described the incident as part of Moscow’s hybrid activities in Europe. Her remarks come after Germany formally attributed the attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport to Russia, describing the incident as part of Moscow’s broader hybrid activities in Europe. Berlin has since taken diplomatic measures in response, including ordering the closure of Russia’s last remaining consulate general in the country. Russia’s Consulate General in Bonn ceased operations ahead of its scheduled closure after the German government ordered the diplomatic mission to shut down by September 18, 2026. Following Berlin’s decision, the consulate stopped accepting applications for all consular services.

Las fuerzas de seguridad alemanas han identificado a dos sospechosos de estar implicados en una tentativa de sabotaje con drones en el aeropuerto de Leipzig, según ha adelantado el diario Bild. El suceso se produjo el pasado 5 de agosto, cuando los servicios del aeródromo hallaron varios dispositivos no tripulados tipo FPV, cargados con explosivos, en las inmediaciones de cuatro aviones de carga ucranianos Antonov An-124. Un ciudadano ruso y otro bielorruso, principales sospechosos del intento de sabotaje en Leipzig Según las investigaciones de las autoridades alemanas, la operación fue ejecutada por un ciudadano de origen ruso con pasaporte letón y un ciudadano bielorruso que también ostenta la nacionalidad rusa. Las fuerzas de seguridad rastrean en estos momentos el paradero de al menos otros cuatro individuos tras haber localizado sus desplazamientos y números de teléfono mediante el geoposicionamiento de antenas de telefonía móvil. El ministro del Interior de Alemania, Alexander Dobrindt, ha señalado directamente a Rusia como organizadora del ataque, asegurando que los implicados actuaron bajo instrucciones explícitas de los servicios de inteligencia del Kremlin. Por su parte, la Oficina Federal de Investigación Criminal (BKA) sospecha que el número de aeronaves no tripuladas empleadas podría ser superior al estimado inicialmente, después de haber localizado en el lugar los restos de tres dispositivos. Las pesquisas atribuyen al primer sospechoso, de origen ruso, el papel de coordinador logístico e instructor, además de mantener un vínculo directo con los servicios de inteligencia de Moscú. Tras aterrizar a finales de julio en el aeropuerto de Berlín-Brandeburgo, el individuo se desplazó hacia Leipzig en un vehículo de alquiler y abandonó el país en avión dos días antes de la fecha prevista para la ejecución del ataque. El segundo implicado, de nacionalidad bielorrusa, pudo ser identificado gracias a los restos de ADN hallados por los investigadores en la escena de los hechos. Rastros de ADN, colisión aérea y suspensión del tráfico en el aeropuerto Los investigadores hallaron material genético del sospechoso bielorruso en tres puntos clave: la estructura de uno de los drones, la superficie interior de una lata metálica que albergaba el explosivo y una antena amplificadora de señal instalada en un árbol próximo al perímetro del aeródromo. Al cotejar estos restos con las bases de datos europeas, los agentes confirmaron que el individuo ya figuraba en los registros de Lituania y Finlandia, países donde contaba con antecedentes penales por otros delitos. El hombre había accedido al espacio Schengen a finales de abril mediante un visado turístico concedido por la embajada italiana en Minsk. La secuencia del intento de sabotaje se desencadenó en la madrugada del 5 de agosto, cuando el conductor de un autobús de traslado del aeropuerto divisó el primer artefacto explosivo a las 00.42 horas, situado a escasa distancia de cuatro aviones de carga pesada Antonov An-124 de bandera ucraniana. El hallazgo de un segundo dispositivo obligó a decretar la paralización inmediata de todas las operaciones de vuelo. Durante el cierre del espacio aéreo, sobre las 01.03 horas, una aeronave de carga de la compañía DHL que iniciaba la maniobra de aproximación tuvo que abortar el aterrizaje tras colisionar a unos 400 metros de altitud con un objeto volante no identificado, presuntamente un segundo dron. Nueve días después del incidente, el 14 de agosto, las autoridades localizaron un tercer aparato en un terreno agrícola del municipio de Kabelsketal, colindante con el flanco occidental de las instalaciones aeroportuarias. Von der Leyen señala a la inteligencia rusa y anuncia una intensificación de las sanciones La presidenta de la Comisión Europea, Ursula von der Leyen, ha calificado el incidente con drones en el aeropuerto alemán de Leipzig/Halle como un ataque perpetrado por agentes de la inteligencia rusa con material de uso militar en pleno territorio de la Unión Europea. En una comparecencia en Bruselas previa a su reunión con el secretario general de la OTAN, Mark Rutte, Von der Leyen subrayó que el bloque comunitario no tolerará este tipo de acciones y trasladó el pleno respaldo de la Unión a las autoridades alemanas. La dirigente europea enfatizó que, si la intención de Moscú era forzar a los países europeos a replantearse su apoyo a Ucrania, el efecto ha sido el contrario, reforzando la determinación de los socios comunitarios de mantener la asistencia a Kyiv. Asimismo, la presidenta del Ejecutivo comunitario definió la operación de sabotaje como una nueva escalada atribuible directamente a Moscú, encuadrada en un patrón cada vez más peligroso de actividades híbridas en suelo europeo. Ante este escenario, Von der Leyen se comprometió a mantener e intensificar la presión sobre Rusia hasta que ponga fin a la invasión de Ucrania, asegurando que la Unión Europea está preparada para implementar nuevas rondas de sanciones y cerrar las vías de elusión existentes.

- logo-icon - close-icon Germany has accused Russia of an attempted drone sabotage attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport, triggering a major diplomatic standoff. Berlin announced diplomatic countermeasures as Moscow firmly denied the allegations, while high-ranking Russian officials issued direct threats against German infrastructure. German investigators revealed that an explosive-laden drone targeted a parked Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft on the night of August 4 to 5. While the device struck the plane's wing, the explosives failed to detonate. German authorities stated that findings by intelligence services and police point to suspects operating on behalf of Russian state bodies, reflecting a broader pattern of hybrid operations in Europe. According to investigations by German public broadcasters and national newspapers, federal authorities have identified two primary suspects. Biological traces retrieved from an unexploded device, a container, and an antenna near the airport matched European police databases in Lithuania and Finland. One suspect, a Belarusian national holding a Russian passport, entered the European Schengen zone in April using an Italian tourist visa issued in Minsk. A second suspect with dual Latvian and Russian citizenship allegedly coordinated logistics and instructed the operation before flying out of Germany shortly before the incident occurred. Up to three drones have been recovered around the site. In response to the incident, the German federal government summoned Russian Ambassador Sergey Nechayev and ordered the immediate closure of Russia's Consulate General in Bonn and the Russian House cultural center in Berlin. Germany is also pushing for tighter European Union visa restrictions and additional sanctions against Moscow. Diplomatic envoys were also summoned by authorities in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and European Union institutions. The Russian Embassy in Berlin rejected the findings, describing the allegations as an unproven provocation. Russian President Vladimir Putin accused German authorities of planting fabricated evidence to distract from domestic political difficulties. Meanwhile, Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, escalated the rhetoric on Telegram by stating that Germany deserved potential strikes against military equipment factories supplying Ukraine, adding that other unspecified locations in Berlin could also become targets. Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).

On September 1, the German government announced five retaliatory measures after officially accusing Russia of being behind the incident, including the decision to close the Russian General Consulate in Bonn from September 18 and to tighten entry controls for citizens of that country. Germany imposes sanctions on Russia. (HTV) - Germany has imposed several sanctions on Russia, accusing Moscow of being behind the drone attacks laden with explosives against the Leipzig and Halle airports on August 4, which could potentially strain diplomatic relations between the two countries. Germany will also terminate its contract with the “Russian House,” also known as the Russian Cultural Center, in Berlin. Moreover, German authorities have summoned the Russian ambassador for discussions and have increased pressure on the “ghost fleet” that transports Russian oil. For its part, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the German sanctions a “grave mistake” and “contrary to the interests of the German people.” On the same day, Russia’s ambassador to Germany, Sergey Naryshkin, stated that Berlin’s accusations were “baseless and absurd,” noting that the sanctions constitute “an unprecedented escalation in Russo-German relations.” He also warned that Moscow would take appropriate retaliatory measures.

Germany sanctions Russia following the attack on a Ukrainian An-124 aircraft in Leipzig. GD&TĐ - Germany believes Russia is responsible for the drone attack on a Ukrainian An-124 aircraft last month at Leipzig airport. Báo Giáo dục và Thời đại•09/02/2026 Deutsche Welle reported the information, citing German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, who stated that the attack on the An-124 stationed at Leipzig airport was in line with the “usual pattern of joint operations conducted by Russia in Europe,” and warned that Germany could become a target again. "The means used, such as the drone’s design, its components, the explosives and the detonation systems… are all known to have been used in other joint Russian operations and in its war against Ukraine," added Foreign Minister Johann Wadeful. Security experts had previously suggested that Russia could be behind the attack, but Russia has always denied any involvement. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadeful, speaking alongside Interior Minister Dobrindt at a press conference in Berlin, said he would order the closing of the Russian Consulate in Bonn. Separately, in response to the aforementioned attack, Germany will retaliate by ending the agreement concerning the "Russian House" in Berlin—which, according to many observers, has been used for Russian espionage and propaganda activities. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte clearly stated that the Alliance “is in full solidarity with Germany” as “the evidence is clear and I welcome the measures announced by Germany in response,” Rutte wrote on his personal X page. You may also like It should be noted that on August 4, an explosive-laden drone was found near a Ukrainian Antonov An-124 Ruslan transport aircraft. It struck the aircraft’s wing without exploding. Leipzig Airport had to be temporarily closed due to a demining operation. According to journalists, a cargo of ammunition and military weapons arrived in Germany from France and is being prepared for subsequent transport; however, its final destination has not been announced. US intelligence agencies subsequently identified Russian military intelligence involvement in a drone-assisted sabotage attempt near the An-124 Ruslan transport aircraft at Leipzig airport in early August. According to some sources, the explosives and the design of this drone are typical of vehicles commonly used by Russian intelligence services. In a statement dated August 24, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service accused German politicians and European media of having “immediately” drawn “definitive conclusions” and attributing the incident to Russia “without waiting for the results of a preliminary investigation.” On August 25, German police uncovered a third drone and new evidence concerning the failed sabotage attempt at Leipzig airport. You may also like It appears especially that more drones participated in this coordinated operation than previously thought. On August 10, Die Zeit confirmed, based on video analysis, that the sabotage attempt had failed. During the attack, for reasons unknown, the drone struck the wing of an An-124 Ruslan transport aircraft, but fortunately did not explode. An American intelligence official close to the investigation told ABC News that the device did not explode because its activation mechanism had been disabled, which explains why the An-124 escaped destruction.

Von der Leyen announces new sanctions after attempted drone attack on Leipzig/Halle airport; Berlin accuses Moscow, Putin claims evidence was planted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen vowed today to step up pressure on Russia, including imposing new sanctions, after an attempted drone attack on Leipzig/Halle airport in Germany, which she said showed Moscow's increasing "recklessness". Airport workers found a drone loaded with explosives and equipped with a detonator last month. The airport is an important center for civilian cargo traffic and NATO logistics in eastern Germany, and is also a base for several large Ukrainian Antonov An-124 cargo planes. Germany accused Moscow of the attack, saying it was part of hybrid warfare aimed at intimidating and causing division in countries that sided with Ukraine after the Russian invasion in 2022. Russia said it would respond to what a spokesman for its Foreign Ministry called "anti-Russian actions," and summoned Germany's top diplomat to Moscow for talks. President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday rejected the German government's accusation that Russia was behind the attempted drone attack in Leipzig. He said Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government was pointing the finger at Moscow to divert attention from domestic problems and falling support. He accused Germany of planting evidence to pin responsibility on Russia, but did not provide any basis for that claim. "Europe and NATO will not just continue to put pressure on Russia; we will increase it and we will not stop - until Russia stops bombing and killing innocent children, men and women in Ukraine," von der Leyen said in Brussels after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. "Europeans are faced with the harsh truth that this is the new normal. We must do more, and that means being ready to respond to Russian recklessness faster and better." The full scope of the new sanctions was not immediately known. European foreign policy chief Kaia Kalas said the bloc was working on sanctions linked to Russia's military complex, while the French foreign minister called for measures against Russia's so-called "shadow fleet," ships accused of circumventing energy sanctions. Rutte said that more drones and missiles were entering NATO airspace on the eastern flank of Europe, and that there had been an increase in hostile activity, including an attack in Leipzig. "If Russia thinks that threats will divide us or dissuade us from supporting Ukraine, it is mistaken," he said. The EU and several of its member states have summoned Russian embassy officials for talks. Germany said it would close the Russian Consulate General in Bonn and terminate its agreement with the Russian House cultural center in Berlin. German media outlets Süddeutsche Zeitung, NDR and WDR have published details about the two suspects in the Leipzig attack. Investigators have identified the logistics coordinator and instructor behind the attack, the media reported. The man, born in Russia but with a Latvian passport, is believed to have links to Russian intelligence. He is believed to have arrived in Berlin by plane in late July and then travelled to Leipzig in a rented car. The suspect left Germany by plane two days before the failed drone attack, media reported. The second suspect is a man from Belarus who also holds a Russian passport and is believed to have entered Germany with an Italian tourist visa obtained in Minsk, media reported. The German Federal Prosecutor's Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Russia did not immediately comment further on the case. While the EU prepared a response, Germany faced two new cases of suspected sabotage within 24 hours. In the first case, authorities were investigating vandalism at a substation in the western federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, which caused lignite-fired power plant blocks with a total capacity of 4.200 megawatts (MW) to be disconnected from the grid. In another case, also on Tuesday, devices with conductive material damaged power lines at one of the most important high-voltage junctions in the eastern federal state of Brandenburg. The interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia said that the involvement of foreign powers or left-wing extremists could not be ruled out. Brandenburg Interior Minister Jan Redmann said that there appeared to be similarities between the attacks, but that investigations were still in an early stage. The incidents come at a sensitive time, as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which advocates closer ties with Moscow, leads in polls ahead of state elections this weekend. MP Alexander Trom, a domestic policy expert from Germany's ruling conservatives, said it was striking that such incidents were happening before the election. "The clear goal is to upset the public. Of course, that's not just Russia's goal, but also others, like left-wing extremists," Trom told Reuters. See more:

Germany reacts to Russian attacks: "We are a target" In the night of August 4 to 5, a bus driver discovered a drone loaded with explosives near a Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig-Halle airport. Almost four weeks later, the German government presents its assessment of the facts, which had been evident from the start: it holds Russia responsible for this attempted attack. This is what Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul announced on Tuesday. "The technology used is known to have been employed in other Russian hybrid operations," Dobrindt said. According to him, the operation was conducted professionally and required substantial organizational means. He expects further hybrid attacks from Russia. Tensions between Russia and Germany have been further exacerbated According to Wadephul, this attack has again severely damaged already strained relations between Moscow and Berlin. The foreign minister also announced several measures: the last Russian consul general still active in Germany, Bonn, will be closed on September 18. The Russian ambassador will be summoned, entry conditions for Russian citizens will be tightened, and Germany will advocate within the European Union for the creation of a new sanctions list specifically targeting hybrid attacks. The minister also announced that Germany would toughen its action against the "ghost fleet," used by Russia to circumvent Western sanctions on its oil exports. He did not specify which concrete measures would be taken. Within the Western alliance, Germany is sometimes criticized for its lack of firmness toward this ghost fleet; France, Sweden, and the United Kingdom adopt a much tougher line. Wadephul also announced the termination of the contract concerning the Russian House. This state-run cultural center located in the heart of Berlin is considered a nest of spies. Russia will thus remain the owner of the building but will no longer be able to use it as it does currently. The termination, which can be contractually effected on December 6, could in turn push Moscow to prevent German Goethe institutes from continuing their activities in Russia under the same conditions. Hazardous packages in 2024 Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt also stated: The term "hybrid" could nonetheless give Germans a false sense of security: the two drones discovered at the airport were indeed loaded with explosives, and the plane struck by one of them was intended to transport military equipment to Ukraine. The fact that no explosion occurred may be due to a lucky coincidence. This is by no means the first time the airport has narrowly escaped catastrophe: in July 2024, parcels shipped from the Lithuanian capital Vilnius caught fire in Leipzig, Birmingham, and Warsaw. One of the parcels that burned in Leipzig should have been on board a cargo plane. A few hours before Wadephul and Dobrindt appeared before the press in Berlin, another incident provoked alarm in Germany. In Preilack, in southern Brandenburg, an electrical substation was attacked with explosive devices; some of them reportedly detonated around 8 a.m. This facility redistributes electricity produced by the Jänschwalde Power Station nearby. If the perpetrators had achieved their objective, the region would probably have suffered a massive power outage. Police said those responsible for the attack were not yet known. The AfD in trouble If relations between Germans and Russia are currently the subject of so much debate, it is also for domestic political reasons. On Sunday, the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt will elect a new regional parliament. The far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) is expected to come out on top by a wide margin. Its political opponents warn that a government led by the AfD in Magdeburg could become a gateway for Russian interests in Germany. It is in this context that we must also understand the controversy sparked by a case involving Hans-Thomas Tillschneider, AfD spokesperson for Saxony-Anhalt on education issues. In his office, a journalist filmed a cup bearing the emblem of the Russian army. After the journalist noticed the object, Hans-Thomas Tillschneider tried to make it disappear and then unsuccessfully attempted to prevent the broadcast of the images. That the German media gave such importance to this episode may seem comic, since the AfD politician has never hidden his sympathy for the Russian army. But now, even he seems embarrassed by his acquiescence toward Moscow. It remains to be seen whether this affair will harm the AfD in the electoral campaign. The answer will come on Sunday. Adapted from German by Tanja Maeder

Russian President Vladimir Putin called the German sanctions imposed after the alleged Russian drone attack on the Leipzig/Halle airport a “grave mistake” and rejected any Moscow-related responsibility. “Where is the evidence?” asked Putin at a press conference in Bishkek. He described the elements presented by Germany as “forged.” This is reported by Tagesspiegel. On Tuesday, Berlin for the first time officially held Russia responsible for the August 4 attack attempt. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) stated, jointly with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU), that police investigations, the modus operandi, and intelligence information together painted a clear picture. At the attack site, a drone configuration, explosives, and firing technology had been discovered, known from other Russian operations. There would also be indications of people acting on behalf of Russian state actors. The planning would have been professional, but the execution would have been entrusted to “low-level agents.” Dobrindt also warned that Leipzig was not an isolated case. Germany should expect further Russian sabotage actions, ready to accept greater damage. “We are not at war, but we are the daily target of an hybrid war,” he said. Wadephul later announced a whole package of measures: the Russian General Consulate in Bonn is to be closed on September 18, the contract with the House of Russia in Berlin terminated, and the Russian ambassador summoned. Berlin also wants to tighten entry controls for Russian citizens, increase pressure on Russia’s so-called phantom fleet, and advocate in the EU for sanctions against other Russian officials. German support for Ukraine must be explicitly continued. Moscow announced “mirror” countermeasures. Putin also personally attacked Chancellor Friedrich Merz: he would have “lost the trust of the citizens because he does not protect Germany’s national interests.” According to him, the accusations against Russia would be primarily an attempt to divert attention from domestic political problems. During the incident, an explosive drone had been found in the airport’s security area, between Ukrainian cargo planes from Antonov. A second drone reportedly struck a DHL cargo aircraft. Later, investigators found a third drone as well as explosives in a field in the neighboring state of Saxony-Anhalt. The federal prosecutor’s office speaks of a “serious attack on Germany’s transport and logistics infrastructure.”

BERLIN — The German government on Tuesday blamed Russia for an attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport last month using a drone laden with explosives, and announced that it would shut down a Russian consulate among other measures. The drone was found near a Ukrainian plane on Aug. 4 and the device was defused. German officials said at the time that the incident posed a new level of danger. Moscow has been widely accused by Western officials of running a campaign of sabotage and disruption with the aim of undermining support for Ukraine and destabilizing European nations. Minister says evidence points to a familiar pattern German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said authorities found elements such as the drone configuration, components, explosives and detonator that are "known to us from other Russian hybrid operations and its war against Ukraine." He said the device pointed to "a high degree of technical expertise" and painstaking planning, but carrying out the plan appears to have been left to "low-level" agents. Dobrindt told reporters that intelligence points to "people being involved who acted on behalf of Russian state entities," though he didn't specify which ones. "Taken together, the police investigations, the pattern and intelligence findings prove a Russian responsibility for the attempted attack at Leipzig airport." Germany will shut a Russian consulate Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said that "with the attempted attack in Leipzig, the Russian leadership decided deliberately to do significant damage again to our already massively burdened bilateral relationship." He said the Russian consulate in Bonn will be closed effective Sept. 18. The Russian House cultural center in Berlin also will be closed, though that may take some time. Germany will propose the addition of more people from Russia to European Union sanctions lists "in the context of hybrid attacks," step up entry controls for people from Russia and increase "pressure on the shadow fleet," a reference to tankers suspected of shipping Russian oil in violation of international sanctions, Wadephul said. The EU has sanctioned hundreds of "shadow fleet" ships. The Russian ambassador was summoned to the foreign ministry in Berlin. Wadephul later told ARD television that "Germany can at any time show a stronger reaction, (but) that is not necessary at this point." Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said there would be a "fitting response" to the planned closures, Russian state news agency Tass reported. She rejected claims of Russian involvement in the attempted drone attack, calling them a "far-fetched and contrived pretext" for Berlin to escalate tensions and arguing that "as usual, no convincing or serious evidence has been presented whatsoever." Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed Berlin's allegations, instead claiming that Germany's leadership sought to use the incident to distract from their own failings and dissatisfaction among voters with "the need to counter an aggressive Russia." "But where is the proof? Well, the proof has been planted," Putin told reporters in the early hours of Wednesday in Kyrgyzstan, where he attended a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. He didn't elaborate on why he thinks the proof has been planted, nor did he offer evidence. Around 200 incidents blamed on Russia Leipzig/Halle is a major hub for international freight and for providing support to Ukraine. The planes that regularly use it include Ukrainian Antonov transport aircraft. It is also home to NATO's Strategic Airlift International Solution, or SALIS, which is currently operational almost every day in delivering equipment to NATO battle groups along its eastern flank from Finland to Romania and supporting EU and alliance nation missions. In 2024, an incendiary device ignited at a logistics center at the airport and set fire to a freight container before it could be loaded onto a cargo plane, part of a plot that Western security officials suspect was organized by Russian intelligence. The Associated Press has tracked around 200 incidents of sabotage and malign activity across Europe blamed on Russia by Western officials since the invasion of Ukraine. That includes organizing plots to set fire to warehouses, launching drones and trying to kill enemies abroad as well as stealing defense technology and carrying out cyberattacks on critical European infrastructure. In May, Putin responded to the AP findings and said Moscow is not waging a sabotage campaign against Europe. He demanded that AP "name one proven fact." Russia has faced many packages of EU sanctions The EU has slapped almost two dozen packages of sanctions on Russia over its war in Ukraine, targeting roughly 3,000 people and entities. EU foreign ministers will meet in Ireland Wednesday. European allies rallied around Germany after Tuesday's announcement. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said in a post on X that he had spoken with Chancellor Friedrich Merz and "NATO stands in full solidarity with Germany after the Russian hybrid attack in Leipzig." In mid-August, the German Cabinet approved plans to give the country's intelligence services broader powers for actions such as disabling sabotage and hacking attempts. The planned reform, which had been in the works for months, still requires parliamentary approval. Hours before Tuesday's German statement, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who has frequently warned that Russia is carrying out a campaign of sabotage against NATO countries, said Poland has been targeted by new acts of sabotage including arson within the past "dozens of hours." He spoke the day after a fire broke out at WB Electronics, which the Polish government has described as Europe's biggest drone manufacturer. Prosecutors said Monday they launched an investigation based on suspicions of the "participation of foreign intelligence activities against the Republic of Poland," without elaborating on what country might be responsible. They said the fire in Skarżysko-Kamienna destroyed warehouse facilities and caused damage estimated at at least 15 million zlotys ($4 million). Copyright 2026 NPR

A police officer in protective clothing walks next to an explosive-disarming robot at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Schkeuditz, Germany, August 5, 2026. © Axel Schmidt, Reuters Germany’s government on Tuesday blamed Russia for an attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport on 4 August using an explosive-laden drone, and announced that it would shut down a Russian consulate among other measures against Moscow. French President Emmanuel Macron said he supported the adoption of new European sanctions against Russia after the attempted drone attack. Leipzig- The German government on Tuesday blamed Russia for an attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport last month using a drone laden with explosives, and announced that it would shut down a Russian consulate among other measures against Moscow. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen vowed “full solidarity” with Berlin in response. “NATO will continue to strengthen our ability to deter and defend all Allies against any threat – including malign actions like those seen in Leipzig and elsewhere across the Alliance,” Rutte wrote on X following talks with Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Rutte said Berlin had put forward “clear” evidence of Moscow’s role in the “hybrid attack” and welcomed the measures announced in response. “Russia’s attempts to intimidate us, to undermine our unity and our willingness to support Ukraine are futile and will fail,” he added. The European Commission president, who likewise spoke with Merz, vowed to “keep the EU united despite these escalating and serious acts”. “I assured him that the EU stands in full solidarity with Germany in the face of this attack by Russia,” von der Leyen wrote on X. “The German government has taken strong measures. And the message is clear: hybrid attacks will not go without a clear response,” she said, adding the bloc was preparing additional sanctions against Russia. “We are united in our resolve to stand against Russian aggression. We will deter anyone who seeks to undermine our freedom and security,” the commission chief wrote. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday he supported the adoption of new European sanctions against Russia after the attempted drone attack. “We must be united in support to Ukraine, France will continue to play its full part,” he said in a post on X. The drone was found near a Ukrainian plane on the evening of August 4 and the device was defused. German officials said at the time that the incident posed a new level of danger. Moscow has been widely accused by Western officials of running a campaign of sabotage and disruption across Europe with the aim of undermining support for Ukraine and destabilising European nations. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said Tuesday that authorities found elements such as the drone configuration, components, explosives and detonator that are “known to us from other Russian hybrid operations and its war against Ukraine”. He said that the device pointed to “a high degree of technical expertise” and painstaking planning, but that the execution of the plan appears to have been left to “low-level” agents. Dobrindt told reporters in Berlin that intelligence points to “people being involved who acted on behalf of Russian state entities”, though he didn’t specify which ones. “Taken together, the police investigations, the pattern and intelligence findings prove a Russian responsibility for the attempted attack at Leipzig airport.” Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said that “with the attempted attack in Leipzig, the Russian leadership decided deliberately to do significant damage again to our already massively burdened bilateral relationship”. He said that the Russian consulate in Bonn will be closed effective September 18 and the contract under which the Russian House cultural centre in Berlin is operated will be rescinded. Germany will propose the addition of more people from Russia to European Union sanctions lists “in the context of hybrid attacks”, will step up entry controls for people from Russia and “increase pressure on the shadow fleet”, a reference to tankers suspected of shipping Russian oil in violation of international sanctions. The EU has sanctioned hundreds of “shadow fleet” ships. Russia’s Foreign Ministry told the Interfax news agency that Moscow “would respond” to what it described as Germany’s “anti-Russian decision”. Leipzig/Halle is a major hub for international freight and for providing support to Ukraine. The planes that regularly use it include Ukrainian Antonov transport aircraft. It is also home to NATO’s Strategic Airlift International Solution, or SALIS, which is currently operational almost every day in delivering equipment to NATO battle groups along its eastern flank from Finland to Romania and supporting EU and alliance nation missions. In 2024, an incendiary device ignited at a logistics centre at the airport and set fire to a freight container before it could be loaded onto a cargo plane, part of a plot that Western security officials suspect was organised by Russian intelligence. (FRANCE 24 with AP and AFP)

On 2 September 2026, the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Embassy of Russia was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In full solidarity with Germany, a note of protest was presented to him condemning the Russian Federation’s direct involvement in the attempted drone attack on Leipzig Airport in Germany on 4 August 2026. "The incident caused by the Russian Federation is not simply another hybrid attack; it is an act of state-sponsored terrorism by Russia on German soil and a direct threat to the security of all of Europe," emphasised the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže. Russia is deliberately trying to destabilise and divide Europe by testing our resilience, unity and determination. In this way, Russia is seeking to undermine our support for Ukraine. It will not succeed. During the meeting, the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Embassy of Russia was presented with a firm demand that the Russian Federation immediately cease carrying out such and similar hostile actions on the territory of EU and NATO member states and against their populations. The level of military threat in Latvia has not changed. At the same time, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and hybrid attacks against NATO Allies are worsening the overall security situation across Europe. Latvia will continue to closely coordinate measures with EU and NATO member states in order to strengthen our common security and resilience.