Germany accuses Russia of hybrid drone attack at Leipzig airport

The German Government has officially held Russia responsible this Tuesday for the "hybrid attack" with drones recorded on August 4 at the Leipzig airport, where a device loaded with explosives was located, and has warned that Germany will react to new actions of this type.

"The federal government comes to the conclusion that Russia is responsible for the hybrid attack carried out in Leipzig on August 4," said German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt during a press conference in Berlin alongside Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.

The official attribution confirms the information known hours before, when the newspaper Bild, citing sources from the German security services, announced that "the trail of the drone loaded with explosives seems to lead to a Russian intelligence service."

Wadephul has assured that Germany "is not going to be intimidated" and has warned that there will be a response to possible new attacks, although he has ruled out a disproportionate reaction. "There will not be an overreaction, but there will be reactions when we are attacked," said the head of German diplomacy.

"Russia has to know that Germany is a factor of stability in Europe and that it is always willing to negotiate, but that in no case will it be intimidated," added Wadephul, who reiterated that Berlin will maintain its support for Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion.

The minister modified his international agenda this Tuesday to return to Berlin from Algeria and hold an urgent meeting with Dobrindt before continuing to Ireland, where the foreign ministers of the European Union are meeting.

Three drones and explosives in the airport environment

The investigation began after the discovery during the night of August 4 at Leipzig airport of a drone equipped with an explosive charge. Shortly after, the alleged collision of a second unmanned aerial vehicle with a DHL cargo plane occurred and, ten days later, investigators located a third device and explosives, according to regional public broadcasters WDR and NDR and the newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung.

This third drone was found in the early afternoon of August 14 in a field in Kabelsketal, in the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt, next to the western border of Leipzig Airport, located in Saxony. Until now, German authorities had avoided publicly attributing the events while investigations continued, although Chancellor Friedrich Merz had announced on Sunday that Berlin was preparing a coordinated response with the European Union and its NATO allies.

NATO vows to strengthen its response

The German attribution has also provoked an immediate reaction from NATO. The Secretary General of the Alliance, Mark Rutte, has assured that the allies will continue to strengthen their capacity "to deter and defend all allies against any threat, including malicious actions such as those observed in Leipzig."