Russia Calls Drone with Explosives in Leipzig a Ukrainian Provocation
Russia's embassy in Berlin denies responsibility and accuses Kyiv, while a US assessment suggests Russian involvement.
Russia's embassy in Berlin denies responsibility and accuses Kyiv, while a US assessment suggests Russian involvement.
Russia's embassy in Berlin has sharply reacted to the discovery of a drone with explosives at Germany's Leipzig/Halle airport, calling the entire incident a "provocation" aimed at Moscow. In a statement released on Telegram on Friday, the Russian side claims that Ukraine is behind the incident, but has offered no evidence for these accusations.
"It is obvious that this hastily organized provocation serves solely the goals of Kyiv and the militaristic wing of the European political class," the Russian diplomatic mission stated. The embassy also warned of a "new wave of anti-Russian hysteria in Germany," claiming that the case is being used to fuel negative sentiment toward Russia in the media.
A drone equipped with explosives and a detonator was found late Tuesday evening at Leipzig/Halle airport, in the immediate vicinity of Ukrainian transport aircraft. According to available information, the aircraft was brought down by an airport employee. Shortly after the incident, upon reopening of the airspace, a plane collided with a smaller unidentified flying object, and investigators are checking whether this was also a drone.
Germany's Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated after the discovery that such an incident represents a completely new level of security threat. In recent months, Berlin has increasingly warned of hybrid operations, sabotage, and drone activities linked to foreign states, and has previously accused Russia of attempts to intimidate on German soil.
The Russian embassy categorically rejects any responsibility on Moscow's part. "As in previous cases, no evidence has been presented," they stated. According to their interpretation, such incidents serve Ukraine and European governments solely as an argument for continued financial and military aid to Kyiv, with "unlimited financial resources flowing into the hands of a corrupt regime."
On the other hand, a US assessment, previously reported by CNN, links the found drone directly to Russian intelligence. German authorities have not yet publicly attributed the incident to any party, leaving room for two completely opposing versions of events.
In a sharp response to warnings from German politicians about the possible consequences of hybrid attacks on Germany and NATO, the Russian embassy stated: "We would like to add that the greatest danger to Germany today does not lie in the much-touted 'hybrid attacks' by Moscow, which do not even exist, but rather comes from politicians who enthusiastically prepare scenarios for an imminent war against Russia and urge German citizens to participate in it."
