Germany allows special Russian flight to take out consular staff

The German Foreign Office announced on Wednesday that special permission had been granted for a Russian flight to facilitate the departure of officials after their consulate was shut down in response to an attempted airport drone attack attributed to Moscow.

The Russian aircraft landed at Cologne/Bonn Airport early on Wednesday. Aircraft registered in Russia are currently not permitted to fly to European Union countries because of sanctions imposed in connection with the war in Ukraine.

In response to an alleged attempted drone attack at Leipzig Airport attributed to Russia, the German government announced that it would close the Russian Consulate General in Bonn. The consul general and other diplomatic staff have to leave the country by Friday.

Russia categorically denies having anything to do with the drone at the airport. As a countermeasure, the Russian Foreign Ministry ordered the closure of the German Consulate General in St Petersburg, also by September 18. Its staff have likewise been instructed to leave the country.