Germany’s federal government attributed an attempted explosive drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ) to Russia and announced diplomatic measures in response, including the closure of Russia’s consulate general in Bonn.
On September 1, 2026, Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said police investigation results, the pattern of the offense, and intelligence findings from German services and their partners together established Russian responsibility for the August 4, 2026, incident.
He said the drone configuration, various components, the explosive, and the detonation technology were known from other Russian hybrid operations and from Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Dobrindt described the technical setup recovered at the site as professional, indicating a high level of expertise and considerable organizational effort in planning and execution. He said the final execution of the attempt was carried out by low-level agents.
He did not make the underlying intelligence material public, presenting the attribution as the product of the combined findings. Dobrindt characterized the German response as proportionate and measured, but equally determined.
Germany closes Russia’s last consulate general
Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said the Russian consulate general in Bonn will close on September 18, 2026, and that the contract for the Russian House, a Berlin cultural institute run by the Russian state agency Rossotrudnichestvo, will be terminated.
He said Germany would tighten entry controls for Russian nationals, increase pressure on Russia’s shadow fleet, and propose new EU sanctions against individuals. The Russian ambassador was summoned to the Federal Foreign Office.
The Bonn post was the last Russian consulate general operating in Germany. Four others closed in a reciprocal measure after Moscow capped the official staffing of the German embassy in Russia.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told German press agency dpa that Moscow would respond in kind.
Drone struck Antonov An-124 at Leipzig/Halle Airport
The drone was found in the airport’s secured area on the evening of August 4, 2026, among parked Ukrainian freighters. Airport video reviewed by investigators showed it flying toward a parked Antonov Airlines An-124 at around 19:30 local time and striking one of its wings, with the explosive charge separating on impact. The detonator failed to function.
The Federal Prosecutor General’s office took over the case from the Dresden prosecutors on August 6, 2026, and is investigating attempted causing of an explosion and dangerous interference with air traffic.
Leipzig/Halle has been Antonov Airlines’ operating base since 2022 and hosts Antonov Logistics SALIS GmbH, the contractor for NATO’s Strategic Airlift International Solution.
Investigators later recovered a third drone and roughly 50 grams of the explosive hexogen from a field at Kabelsketal, west of the airport.
Two further explosions under investigation
The decision comes as German authorities are examining two further explosive incidents.
Police said improvised explosive and incendiary devices were found on September 1, 2026, at the Turnow-Preilack substation in Brandenburg, which links the Jaenschwalde power plant to the 50Hertz grid. At least one detonated, damaging lines and briefly interrupting supply. Operator LEAG said an attack had been carried out.
On September 2, 2026, an explosion near Augsburg central station injured two people and halted rail traffic. German media reported the device was a hand grenade.