Germany officially accuses Russia of sabotage at Leipzig airport
Фото: Reuters
Germany has officially stated that Russia is responsible for the attempted sabotage at Leipzig/Halle airport. In early August, a drone with explosives was found near a Ukrainian cargo plane.
This was announced by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Foreign Minister Johann Wadeful, the BBC reports.
According to Dobrindt, German investigators and intelligence agencies have found signs that point to a Russian trace. This includes, in particular, the design of the drone, its components, explosives and a detonator. The German side has also received relevant intelligence data.
“Taken together, the police investigation, the nature of the operation and intelligence confirm Russia’s responsibility for the attempted attack at Leipzig Airport,” Dobrindt said.
Vaddeful stressed that Berlin does not consider this case to be isolated. According to him, the incident is part of a broader campaign of Russian hybrid operations in Europe.
In response, Germany will close the Russian Consulate General in Bonn. In addition, Berlin will terminate the agreement on the operation of the Russia House in the capital. Germany also plans to seek new EU sanctions against Russian citizens involved in hybrid attacks and to tighten entry controls for Russians.
Russian Ambassador Sergei Nechaev was summoned to the German Foreign Ministry. Moscow rejected the accusations and said it would respond to Berlin’s decision.
Germany has already received support from the European Union and NATO. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for a joint response, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called the evidence of Russian involvement compelling.
The drone itself with the explosive device was found on August 4 near the Ukrainian plane on the airport grounds. The device was successfully defused.
It should be noted that two planes were diverted from Leipzig/Halle Airport after an unidentified drone was spotted near the airport . The incident occurred on August 26, but it was only reported later.
As a reminder, German intelligence services have little doubt that Russia may be behind the incident with a drone with explosives at Leipzig/Halle airport . At the same time, the German government has not yet publicly accused Moscow, as the investigation has not yet received conclusive evidence of its involvement.
It later emerged that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was preparing to hold Russia responsible for the drone attack on a Ukrainian An-124 plane at Leipzig airport. Berlin is planning to announce “wide-ranging” sanctions against Russian entities as the EU prepares a new package of restrictions.
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