Russian spy link in Leipzig airport drone plot

A suspected explosive-laden drone discovered at Leipzig airport last month has led German security officials to investigate possible Russian military intelligence involvement. A report has identified a GRU-linked Russian national as the alleged coordinator of the operation.

The drone was discovered on August 4 in a secured cargo area at Leipzig airport, close to a Ukrainian cargo aircraft. German investigators suspect the incident may have been part of a wider “hybrid attack”, according to a report by Welt am Sonntag. The newspaper reported that German authorities believe Russian national Oleg Le, allegedly linked to Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency, acted as the logistics coordinator for the suspected operation. Investigators have also identified a second suspect, Belarusian national Andrei Ka, the report said.

The August 4 incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport involved an explosives-laden drone found near a Ukrainian transport jet. German authorities were able to disarm the drone and later the German government officially blamed Russia in early September. The reported findings were cited as the basis for Berlin’s decision to hold Russia responsible for the incident and announce measures targeting Russian diplomatic and cultural facilities in Germany, including the closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn and a Russian cultural centre in Berlin. Moscow has denied any involvement in the incident.

According to Welt am Sonntag, investigators believe Le entered Germany from Turkey before travelling onwards to Serbia via Berlin airport. He is now believed to have returned to Russia. The report said German authorities were aware of Le’s alleged links to the GRU when he entered the country but did not place him under surveillance. Investigators reportedly identified the two suspects through DNA traces recovered at Leipzig airport. They are also examining how the explosives may have entered Germany, with the newspaper reporting that the material could have been concealed in trucks travelling through Bulgaria and Serbia.

The suspected device was discovered late on August 4 in a secured cargo area at Leipzig airport, close to a Ukrainian cargo aircraft. The airport is a key hub for the movement of military-related goods. Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, the BfV, declined to comment on the report. An agency spokeswoman told AFP that she could not comment “due to the ongoing investigation”. The reported case comes amid heightened German concerns over suspected Russian-linked sabotage, cyberattacks and other forms of “hybrid” activity. Germany has been among Ukraine’s key European supporters since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.