Reports: Germany holds Russia responsible for attempted drone attack

The German government believes Russia was behind an attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport last month, German media reported, amid growing expectations that Berlin is preparing to formally attribute the incident to Moscow.

German authorities assume that a Russian intelligence service was responsible for the explosives-laden drone that was found near Ukrainian cargo aircraft at the airport in eastern Germany, the Spiegel news magazine and the Bild tabloid reported.

Berlin is yet to officially identify who it thinks was behind the incident. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said only that his country's response was being coordinated with NATO and EU allies.

Official statement on Tuesday

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul are set to make an announcement later on Tuesday. No further information was available at the time of editing.

Wadephul, who is currently on a visit to Algeria, is expected to stop over in Berlin for consultations with Dobrindt before heading on to Ireland for a meeting with EU counterparts on Tuesday evening, according to delegation sources in Algiers.

Earlier on Tuesday, Wadephul vowed a measured response to the discovery of the drone, but stopped short of holding Russia directly responsible for the incident.

Asked in Algiers whether Berlin should be concerned about Moscow retaliating against any German response, Wadephul stressed that Germany would not overreact but would respond "when we are attacked."

"Russia must know that Germany is a stabilizing force in Europe, one that is always prepared to negotiate, but which will not be intimidated in any way."

'Serious attack on transport infrastructure'

A drone fitted with explosives and a detonation mechanism was discovered on the evening of August 4 in the security zone of Leipzig/Halle Airport, between Ukrainian cargo aircraft, prompting a temporary halt to flights.

A short time later, a second unidentified flying object collided with a DHL cargo aircraft that had been unable to land due to the runway closure and was forced to abort its landing.

German federal prosecutors, who are investigating the incident, have described it as a "serious attack on Germany's transport and logistics infrastructure."

EU top diplomat points finger at Russia

EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas on Tuesday suggested that it was "clear" that Russia was involved in the drone incident.

However, she said she would leave it to Germany to identify those responsible, in comments made at an EU defence ministers' meeting in Wicklow, Ireland.

Kallas said Russia was also becoming increasingly provocative, raising the question of what could be done to deter Moscow from going further.

More sanctions?

Merz said on Sunday that the investigation into the incident was nearing completion and that his government has agreed on how to respond.

Berlin has several options, including expelling Russian diplomats, although such a step would be a comparatively limited response given the severity of the incident.

Germany could also activate Article 4 of the NATO treaty, under which a member state can request consultations with allies when it believes its security or territorial integrity is threatened.

If Berlin identifies a Russian state actor as responsible for the attack, it could also push for a new package of EU sanctions on Moscow's so-called shadow fleet of vessels used to circumvent oil sanctions.

There have also been calls to close Russian House - a Russian cultural institution located in central Berlin close to the government district. Moscow is likely to retaliate to such a move by shutting down Germany's main cultural institution in Russia, the Goethe Institute.