Italian Foreign Ministry
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Germany accuses Russia of Leipzig drone attack on Ukrainian cargo plane; two suspects identified
On 1 September Germany formally accused Russia of orchestrating the 4–5 August drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport targeting a Ukrainian An-124 cargo aircraft. Investigators have identified two suspects: a Russian-born man with a Latvian passport linked to Russian intelligence, and a Belarusian-Russian citizen who entered the EU on an Italian tourist visa. Berlin announced retaliatory measures, and EU foreign ministers meeting in Ireland discussed tightening visa rules for Russian nationals.
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Germany blames Russia for drone incident at Leipzig/Halle airport, announces countermeasures
On 1 September, Germany formally blamed Russia for an explosive drone discovered on 4 August near a Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft at Leipzig/Halle airport. German ministers announced the closure of the Russian consulate general in Bonn, termination of the agreement for the "Russian House" in Berlin, tighter border controls, and new EU sanctions listings. Russia rejected the accusations, and the EU summoned the Russian ambassador.
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Zelensky warns Russia's airspace is unsafe for civil aviation due to Ukrainian drone strikes
In a September 1 address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia's airspace is becoming fully unsafe because of Ukrainian drone operations and called on foreign airlines and ambassadors to take the risks into account. He said Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs would brief international structures on the dangers, while reiterating that Ukraine does not target civilian aviation.