Germany blames Russia for airport drone incident, hits back with sanctions

Berlin: Germany has blamed Russia for a recent attempted hybrid attack involving an explosive-laden drone at Leipzig airport, and announced diplomatic countermeasures in response. The European Union expressed full solidarity with Germany, while NATO assured it would defend its members against any threat. Germany plans to close Russia's consulate in Bonn and cancel the Russian House cultural center in Berlin, as well as tighten entry controls for Russian nationals and propose additional sanctions against Russian individuals.

Russian ambassador to Berlin, Sergei Nechayev, rejected Germany's accusations as unsubstantiated and warned of consequences. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that low-level Russian agents were responsible for the hybrid attack, and that the incident should be viewed as part of a broader pattern of Russian hybrid actions against Ukraine and its allies.

EU Chief Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Chief Mark Rutte, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez all voiced support for Germany's response. Germany has been on high alert for suspicious drone sightings over military and industrial sites, and the Leipzig incident raised the alarm as a drone found there carried explosives.

The Russian House, a seven-story building near the Russian embassy, is suspected to be a hub for espionage, with over 100 people living there and unusually high power consumption.