A bomb-laden drone hit a Ukrainian An-124 in Germany, then lay unnoticed for hours

A drone carrying Semtex explosives was launched at a Ukrainian An-124 Ruslan cargo plane at Leipzig/Halle airport in Germany on the evening of August 4, according to Die Zeit. The drone struck the aircraft's wing, bounced off and fell to the ground, and did not explode. The incident occurred at approximately 7:30 PM local time. This attack marks a shift in Russia's hybrid warfare tactics, expanding from the digital domain to physical attacks on foreign soil, potentially posing a greater threat to NATO member states if Russian involvement is confirmed.

The drone's target was a fuel tank area, and it contained Semtex plastic explosive. It wasn't until four hours later that a tourist bus driver discovered the device on the ground, reported it to airport security, and it was later analyzed. Germany's Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt suspected a state actor was responsible and convened a National Security Council meeting.

The United States also assessed the drone as belonging to Russian intelligence. The cargo on the Ukrainian aircraft included military equipment and ammunition that had been transported from France to Germany for further delivery. However, Germany's Federal Ministry of the Interior denied this claim. The Ukrainian An-124 Ruslan aircraft, operated by Antonov Airlines, has been utilizing Leipzig/Halle airport as a temporary base since Russian forces destroyed their main base in Hostomel in 2022.