The European Union and NATO have vowed to step up pressure on Russia following what they described as a new escalation after Germany blamed Moscow for a failed drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday that the incident marked a new escalation on European Union soil and accused Russia of becoming increasingly reckless in its alleged hybrid operations across Europe.
“NATO stands in full solidarity with Germany,” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said after meeting von der Leyen in Brussels.
Germany said investigations and intelligence findings showed that Russia was behind the August 4 incident, in which an explosives-laden drone was allegedly used to target a Ukrainian cargo aircraft at the airport.
The drone was reportedly defused by a bomb disposal robot, while another drone was believed to have collided with a second cargo plane. A third drone was discovered at the airport 10 days later.
German authorities said the drone’s configuration, components, explosives and detonator were consistent with equipment previously linked to Russian hybrid operations.
Two suspects have reportedly been identified in connection with the incident, including a Belarusian national with a Russian passport and another individual holding Latvian and Russian passports.
Russia has rejected the accusations, describing them as unfounded and demanding evidence from Berlin.
Germany has responded by announcing plans to close the Russian consulate in Bonn and the Russian House cultural institution in Berlin. Moscow, in retaliation, ordered the closure of Goethe-Institut cultural centres in Moscow, St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg.
Russian President Vladimir Putin described Germany’s measures as a serious mistake, while Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said Moscow could consider severing diplomatic relations, although it was still giving diplomacy a chance.
Von der Leyen said the EU would work with its allies to impose further sanctions and strengthen measures against Russia.
EU foreign ministers are also considering tougher action against Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, while several member states are pushing for more than €193 billion in frozen Russian assets to be used to support Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Germany has reported several suspected sabotage incidents, including attacks on electricity substations in Brandenburg and near Cologne.
Authorities have not established who was responsible for the attacks, but North Rhine-Westphalia Interior Minister Herbert Reul said investigators were examining possible foreign-state involvement and left-wing extremism.
In neighbouring Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said a fire at a factory producing combat drones was a deliberate act of arson and sabotage.
Rutte said Europe was facing increased risks from drones, missiles and other hostile activities targeting critical infrastructure and defence facilities.
Von der Leyen said the EU would continue increasing pressure on Moscow until Russia ends its war in Ukraine.
“We will increase it and we will not stop, not until Russia stops bombing and killing innocent men, women and children in Ukraine,” she said.
