Germany Blames Russia for Leipzig Airport Drone Attack

The Federal Government of Germany has attributed an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport to Russia. The incident, which occurred on August 4, involved a drone carrying an explosive device discovered near Ukrainian cargo planes. In response, Germany shut down the Russian consulate in Bonn and a Russian cultural center in Berlin. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated that Germany is a daily target of hybrid warfare.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the event as having the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism. The European Union has since summoned Russian ambassadors and is considering expanded sanctions against the Russian military complex. Russia has denied any involvement, claiming the accusations are an attempt to divert attention from German domestic failures.

The attribution has fueled political polarization. In Germany, the far-right Alternative für Deutschland dismissed the evidence as politically expedient, while the far-left Die Linke warned that closing Russian facilities increases the risk of war. These tensions coincide with other security incidents, including an explosion at Augsburg railway station and a second sabotage attempt on the electricity grid.

In Bulgaria, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed solidarity with Germany but omitted any mention of Russia by name. This omission drew criticism from opposition MPs, including Georg Georgiev, who accused the Bulgarian government of distancing itself from allies and failing to condemn Russian aggression.