BERLIN — Berlin squarely placed the blame for an incursion of explosive-laden drones last month on the Kremlin and announced a raft of retaliatory diplomatic measures.
“The attack involved tools such as the drone configuration, various components, explosives, and cyber technology that we recognize from other Russian hybrid operations and its war against Ukraine,” Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told reporters in Berlin on Tuesday. “The German government has therefore concluded that Russia is responsible for the hybrid attack in Leipzig on August 4.”
The attempted attack in August involved three drones — two of which carried explosive material — spotted at Leipzig-Halle Airport in eastern Germany in August, including one drone that was found near a Ukrainian Antonov plane used to transport munitions.