The German government states that police investigations, the pattern of the attack, and intelligence findings point to Russia. On August 4, a drone carrying explosives was found in the secured area of Leipzig/Halle, near Ukrainian cargo planes. According to Berlin, the perpetrators acted on behalf of Russian authorities.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt emphasizes that Germany is not formally at war but is targeted daily by hybrid warfare. Berlin does not see Leipzig as an isolated incident but as part of a broader pattern of Russian operations on European soil.
Diplomatic
Germany is therefore closing the Russian Consulate General in Bonn and ending the agreement with the Russian House in Berlin. Controls on Russian citizens entering Germany will also be tightened. In addition, Berlin wants to increase pressure on the Russian shadow fleet and promote new sanctions within the EU.
Promotion
Diplomatic pressure is also being intensified. Germany summoned the Russian ambassador, while the European Union called the highest Russian diplomat in Brussels to account. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described Leipzig as a wake-up call and advocated for a united European response and consultation on additional sanctions.
EU and NATO
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte have pledged their support to Germany. Von der Leyen calls Leipzig part of a broader pattern of increasingly dangerous incidents. Rutte states that Russia is acting more recklessly and welcomes the countermeasures announced by Germany.
Concerns are heightened by new sabotage of the German power grid. In Turnow-Preilack in Brandenburg, projectiles were fired at high-voltage lines, causing two short circuits. A brief power outage followed, but the overall electricity supply remained intact. Authorities are investigating who is responsible.
Airspace
At the same time, Ukraine continues to pressure Russia with drones. In response to ongoing Russian rocket attacks on civilian targets in Kyiv and the numerous attacks on Ukrainian trains, President Zelensky said that Ukraine will close Russian airspace with drones.
His government has warned civil aviation and insurance companies that Russian airspace will be filled with Ukrainian drones in the near future to intercept Russian rockets. Zelensky warns airlines and insurers that Russian airspace is becoming increasingly dangerous due to Ukrainian drone activities.