Lavrov warns of 'real war' after Western accusations over Leipzig airport drone incident

On September 1, Germany accused Russia of orchestrating a drone attack near Leipzig/Halle Airport, stating it found Russia responsible for the incident on August 4. The German government claimed the attack was part of a broader Russian "hybrid" campaign and subsequently took steps including closing Russia's consulate in Bonn and a Russian cultural center in Berlin.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov harshly responded on Sunday, accusing Germany of seeking another war and dismissing Berlin's allegations. He called the latest escalation "by and large, the start of a real war" and likened Germany's actions to the prelude to World War II. Lavrov also denounced Germany for practicing modern-day Nazism, asserting that Russian leadership would take appropriate action in response.

Germany's Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt confirmed that the drone's components, explosives, and detonation systems aligned with previous Russian hybrid operations. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul announced plans to seek tighter EU travel restrictions on Russian nationals and increased pressure on Russia's "shadow fleet" of oil tankers.

Lavrov labeled Germany's latest moves as proof that the country seeks to regain its military dominance in Europe, effectively declaring war on Russia. He accused Chancellor Friedrich Merz of leading Germany in this direction. Moscow has dismissed Germany's accusations as baseless and accused Berlin of creating false evidence. The ongoing dispute has pushed bilateral relations to new lows, with Moscow and Berlin closing each other's cultural facilities and European nations summoning Russian diplomats.