Germany blames Russia for Leipzig/Halle airport drone incident; grid attacks under investigation

Germany-Russia tensions escalated on Tuesday after Berlin formally blamed Moscow for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle airport and announced a series of diplomatic and security measures, as police separately investigated two suspected attacks on Germany's electricity network within hours of each other. German authorities have not linked either grid incident to Russia or to the Leipzig/Halle case. Police have also not established whether the two electricity-network attacks were connected.

Berlin said Russia was responsible for an attempted attack involving an explosives-laden drone found near Ukrainian cargo aircraft at Leipzig/Halle airport on August 4. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said police findings, intelligence and the pattern of the operation pointed to people acting on behalf of Russian state agencies. He said the drone configuration, components, explosives and ignition systems were known from other Russian hybrid operations and Russia's war against Ukraine. Leipzig/Halle is a major freight hub and also handles logistics linked to military support for Ukraine.

Germany responded by ordering Russia's Consulate General in Bonn to close from September 18 and ending the lease for the Russian House cultural centre in Berlin. The government also plans to seek new EU listings of Russian individuals linked to hybrid attacks, tighten immigration controls on Russian nationals, increase pressure on Russia's shadow fleet and take further measures in the intelligence sector. Germany also summoned the Russian ambassador, the Federal Foreign Office said. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Germany would continue its civilian and military support for Ukraine and work with NATO and European Union partners to strengthen defences against hybrid threats. Several European governments backed Germany. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she would discuss the attack with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, while EU foreign ministers were preparing a joint response.

Russia rejected Germany's accusation and accused Berlin of further damaging already strained relations. The Russian embassy in Germany called the allegation baseless and described Berlin's measures as an "unprecedented escalation" that would have consequences. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Moscow would respond, while Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Germany had not presented evidence to substantiate its accusation. President Vladimir Putin also questioned Berlin's evidence and accused Germany of planting evidence to frame Russia. He claimed Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government was using the case to divert attention from domestic problems and falling approval ratings, but provided no evidence for either allegation.

German police are separately investigating two suspected deliberate attacks on electricity infrastructure that occurred within hours of each other on Tuesday. A short circuit at an Amprion substation in Bergheim-Rheidt in western Germany on Tuesday evening put several power lines out of service without disrupting electricity supplies to households. Police were alerted at around 1800 GMT and believe the short circuit was deliberately caused rather than the result of a technical fault, German public broadcaster WDR reported, citing an Essen police spokesperson. Police have not said what caused the short circuit or whether any device was used. Investigators are examining whether the incident could be connected to an attack earlier that day in Brandenburg, but no link has been established.

Hours earlier, projectiles carrying conductive material struck extra-high-voltage lines near the Turnow-Preilack substation in Brandenburg, causing two short circuits. The attack briefly interrupted power and automatically shut down one unit at the Jänschwalde power plant. Operator LEAG expected the unit to return to service by Tuesday evening, while transmission operator 50Hertz said the affected lines had been restored and the wider electricity supply was not disrupted. Investigators found a double-digit number of devices at the site, some of which had not activated. Police secured evidence and appealed for witnesses who may have seen the attack or possible suspects on Tuesday morning. The Turnow-Preilack substation is a key high-voltage node linking Jänschwalde, Brandenburg's largest power plant, to the 50Hertz transmission network. Brandenburg Interior Minister Jan Redmann said the devices had been specially constructed and were unlike ordinary fireworks, with their preparation requiring significant work. He did not rule out involvement by a foreign power or left-wing activists. Investigators have not attributed the Brandenburg attack to any state or group and are still trying to establish whether it was connected to the later incident in Bergheim.