Russia’s Bonn consulate served as spy hub — Bild

Germany has officially closed its Russian consulate in Bonn, citing the Leipzig Airport drone incident as the primary reason. However, the newspaper Bild suggests the move may be part of a broader counterintelligence strategy. According to unnamed sources, the Bonn consulate likely functioned as a crucial hub for coordinating Russian intelligence activities in Western Europe.

These operations reportedly targeted the Benelux countries, EU institutions, and NATO headquarters in Brussels. The closure order mandates that approximately 60 Russian diplomats, including Consul General Oleg Krasnitsky, must depart Germany by September 18. Of these, Bild's sources estimate that around one-third are likely employed by Russia's intelligence agencies: the Federal Security Service (FSB), the Foreign Intelligence Service, or the Main Directorate of the General Staff (GRU).

While Bild does not claim a direct link between the drone incident and the consulate, Germany officially accused Russia of attempting a terrorist attack at Leipzig Airport on September 1. Following the incident, Deutsche Welle reported that Germany had closed Russia's consulate general in Bonn, marking the last such diplomatic mission in Germany. Now, Russian citizens can only access consular services at the Russian Embassy in Berlin.