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German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul speak regarding last month's attempted terror attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport involving an explosive-laden drone, during a press conference in Berlin on the 1st (local time). / AP, Yonhap

The German government blamed Russia for last month's attempted drone attack targeting Leipzig/Halle Airport and initiated diplomatic countermeasures, including the closure of Russian diplomatic missions and cultural facilities within the country.

According to reports from Reuters, The Guardian, and other outlets, Germany's Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a joint announcement on the 1st (local time) that a joint investigation by intelligence agencies and police revealed individuals involved in last month's attempted drone attack had acted under instructions from Russian state entities.

As follow-up measures, the German government decided to shut down the Russian Consulate General in Bonn and terminate its agreement with the Russian House, a cultural center located in Berlin. In addition, Berlin summoned the Russian ambassador to the Foreign Ministry to register a formal protest.

German authorities also intend to push at the European Union level for additional sanctions listings and travel restrictions against Russian nationals, as well as a heightened crackdown on Russia's shadow fleet.

With incidents like the one in Leipzig occurring one after another, German authorities are weighing measures to safeguard critical infrastructure against the risks of cyber and hybrid attacks.

On the 1st, an act of sabotage targeted the power grid in the eastern state of Brandenburg. The state interior minister noted that transmission lines were damaged by an unexploded incendiary device, not ruling out the possibility of foreign involvement behind the attack.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stressed, "This Leipzig incident is not merely an isolated attack," adding that "it is an extension of Russia's broader hybrid operations unfolding across Europe."

Russia immediately pushed back, denying the allegations. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov criticized Germany for escalating tensions, asserting that no concrete evidence had been presented.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova likewise characterized Germany's actions as "anti-Russian" and stated that Moscow would take corresponding measures.

Meanwhile, European nations including Poland, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Sweden, along with EU leadership, expressed solidarity with Germany and announced plans to discuss joint responses to hybrid threats.

                                                                                                          Lee Jeong-eun