By Benson Daniel
Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticised Germany’s decision to blame Moscow for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport, describing Berlin’s attribution of responsibility as a grave mistake.
Germany formally accused Russia of orchestrating the August 4 incident after investigators examined the circumstances surrounding a drone carrying explosives that was discovered inside the airport’s secured cargo area.
German officials said their investigation, supported by intelligence findings, established that individuals involved in the attempted attack were acting on behalf of Russian state agencies.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the evidence pointed to Russian involvement, while Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul described the incident as part of a wider pattern of hybrid operations allegedly aimed at destabilising Germany and other European countries.
The drone was found close to Ukrainian cargo aircraft at the airport. It failed to detonate and was subsequently made safe by specialist authorities.
Putin rejected Germany’s assessment, arguing that Berlin had not presented convincing evidence linking the Russian state to the incident. He suggested that the accusation could be connected to Germany’s domestic political difficulties and attempts to shift public attention away from problems at home.
The dispute has further strained relations between Germany and Russia, which have already deteriorated sharply since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
Berlin has announced a series of measures in response to what it describes as Russian hybrid activity. These include the closure of Russian diplomatic facilities and tighter measures affecting Russian citizens entering Germany.
German officials have also warned that the Leipzig incident should not be viewed in isolation.
Authorities are investigating other incidents involving critical infrastructure, including an attempt to disrupt the operation of a power substation in Brandenburg. Police have opened an investigation into possible damage to public infrastructure and have not ruled out broader security implications.
The developments have raised concerns across Europe over the growing use of drones, sabotage, cyberattacks and other forms of covert activity against critical infrastructure.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the Leipzig incident bore the hallmarks of state sponsored terrorism and urged European governments to consider stronger measures against Russia.
EU foreign ministers are discussing possible additional sanctions and other responses as concerns grow over what European officials describe as a campaign of hybrid operations.
The issue has also taken on a political dimension in Germany, with a regional election in Saxony Anhalt approaching. The far right Alternative for Germany party has strong support in the eastern state and has advocated closer relations with Moscow and an end to German military support for Ukraine.
Russia has consistently rejected accusations that it is conducting sabotage operations across Europe and has warned that further measures against Moscow could trigger retaliation.
For Germany, however, the Leipzig investigation represents a significant shift. Berlin had previously been cautious about publicly attributing individual incidents to Russia because of the risk of escalating tensions.
The government’s decision to formally name Russia now signals a tougher approach towards what it regards as threats to German infrastructure and national security.
The disagreement over the Leipzig attack is therefore likely to remain a major issue in relations between Moscow and Berlin, particularly as European governments consider how far they are prepared to go in responding to suspected Russian hybrid operations.
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