Russia Calls German Drone Incident a Fabricated Provocation

The Russian embassy in Berlin has dismissed the suspected drone attack at a major German air freight hub as a "fabricated provocation," saying it reflects a new wave of anti-Russian hysteria in Germany. In a statement published on its website in German and Russian, the embassy expressed concern over what it called baseless accusations against Russia.

German federal prosecutors have launched an investigation into the incident, which they described as a serious attack that could have affected foreign and domestic security. The drone, discovered late Tuesday at Leipzig/Halle airport, was equipped with explosives and a detonator, according to prosecutors. The airport is a key civilian freight and NATO logistics hub in eastern Germany and also serves as a base for Antonov Airlines' giant An-124 cargo planes.

In a related development, a DHL cargo plane that performed a go-around due to a runway closure near the airport collided with an object that prosecutors believe was another drone. The aircraft sustained slight damage and was diverted to Hanover.

While German officials have not publicly blamed any foreign country, some lawmakers have pointed to Russia, which has been conducting a full-scale invasion of Ukraine since 2022. The Russian embassy countered that the incident "only serves the interests of Kyiv and the militarist wing of the European political class."

German authorities have previously accused Moscow of hybrid attacks—acts of aggression that fall short of open warfare.