Medvedev vows to strike Berlin after Leipzig drone incident

Russian Security Council Deputy Chair Dmitry Medvedev warned of potential strikes against Berlin and visiting European leaders in a Telegram post on September 2. He demanded that Berlin shoulder the blame for attributing the recent drone incident to Russia and threatened to target German factories producing military hardware for Ukraine.

Medvedev's threats were fueled by his accusations of German leaders harboring "Russophobia" and his reliance on propaganda about Ukraine. He also suggested strikes targeting Western leaders for their support of Ukraine, including rail transit into Kyiv. On September 1, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that Russia is responsible for the drone attack at Leipzig Airport.

Moscow's response to Germany's decision to shut down the Russian House cultural center and consulate general included threats of retaliation. The drone, rigged with an explosive charge and detonator, was found on August 5 near a Ukrainian An-124 Ruslan aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport, which has been used by Ukraine's Antonov Airlines since 2022.

While Ukraine's Foreign Ministry confirmed there were no casualties or damage to the aircraft, Germany's Interior Ministry denied that the An-124 was carrying munitions. U.S. intelligence sources, cited by The Wall Street Journal, identified the explosives-laden drone as belonging to the Russian government. The investigation revealed that three drones were used in the attempted sabotage, indicating a more extensive attack than initially reported.