Germany Points Finger at Russia Over Drone Found at Leipzig Airport

Germany is preparing to formally accuse Russia of orchestrating an attempted drone attack on a Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig/Halle airport in August, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The government is also considering new sanctions against Moscow in coordination with its allies, though details of the proposed measures were not disclosed.

Airport workers discovered a drone carrying explosives and a detonator at the facility, which serves as a major civilian freight hub and a NATO logistics base in eastern Germany. The airport also hosts several large Ukrainian Antonov An-124 cargo planes.

Berlin had previously stopped short of directly blaming Russia for the incident, describing it instead as part of a broader hybrid war being waged against Europe. Relations between Russia and the West have deteriorated sharply since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, speaking during a visit to Algeria, stopped short of fully confirming the reports but signaled that new measures against Russia were under consideration. He is scheduled to hold a press conference alongside Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt upon his return to Germany.

"There is no overreaction on our part, but there is a response when we are attacked," Wadephul said. "Russia must understand that Germany is a stabilizing force in Europe — one that is always ready to negotiate but will not be intimidated in any way."

The Russian embassy had no immediate comment, but Moscow has previously dismissed such accusations as a "fabricated provocation" and part of "a new wave of anti-Russian hysteria in Germany."

European intelligence officials have long tracked what they describe as Russian sabotage operations across Europe, aimed at weakening NATO unity and member states' resolve to support Ukraine. Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, the German chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Security and Defence, called for Russia to be clearly identified as the mastermind behind the attempted attack.

"I believe we need to call a spade a spade and acknowledge that Russia is behind this," she said, arguing that such incidents should be described as "actual attacks" rather than merely "hybrid attacks."