Germany blames Russia for Leipzig airport drone attack, plans expanded military aid to Ukraine
Germany has officially attributed the August drone incidents at Leipzig/Halle airport — in which explosive-laden drones were found near Antonov/Ukrainian aircraft — to Russia, and announced a series of response measures. Berlin plans to increase military support to Ukraine, including thousands of strike drones and Iris-T missiles in September, and is pushing for tougher EU sanctions. The Bundestag is also preparing to grant Germany's BND expanded 'active measures' powers.
Key points
- On 1 September Germany officially blamed Russia for the hybrid drone attack at Leipzig/Halle airport in August and announced response measures
- Germany plans to supply Ukraine with thousands of strike drones and Iris-T air-defense missiles in September
- Germany seeks to deepen cooperation between German and Ukrainian intelligence services and is considering continuing to help Ukraine collect target coordinates for counterattacks
- The Bundestag is expected this autumn to pass an intelligence-services law allowing BND agents to infiltrate attackers' computers, interfere in supply chains, and sabotage production at hostile drone or chemical-weapons facilities
- Germany will close the Russian consulate general in Bonn on 18 September and terminate the agreement with the 'Russisches Haus' (Russian House) in Berlin
- Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called on the EU to impose new sanctions on Russia; on 2 September EU foreign ministers in Wicklow discussed banning entry for former Russian combatants
- AfD parliamentary secretary Götz Frömming called for investigating a possible 'Ukrainian trace' and questioned why a 'false flag' version had been ruled out; AfD leader Alice Weidel refrained from commenting