Explosive-laden drone in Leipzig: Russia accuses Ukraine of staging a provocation

Russia's embassy in Berlin has claimed that the discovery of a drone carrying Semtex explosive at Leipzig airport was a provocation orchestrated by Ukraine with backing from the "militarist wing" of Europe's political establishment. The incident took place late Tuesday evening in eastern Germany, home to a key transit hub for military aid heading to Ukraine.

In a statement posted on Telegram, the diplomatic mission described the incident as a "hastily concocted provocation that serves Kyiv's interests alone." The embassy also warned of a possible "new wave of anti-Russian hysteria in Germany," alleging that Ukraine and European governments need such incidents to justify continued "unlimited funding for the corrupt regime."

What happened at the airport

The drone, fitted with explosives and a detonator, was found near Ukrainian transport aircraft. An airport worker managed to bring the device down. Shortly afterward, a cargo plane flying over the airport reportedly struck a small unidentified object — preliminary reports suggest this too may have been a drone.

German officials respond

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described the incident as a hybrid attack by a foreign power, though he stopped short of naming Russia directly. Other German politicians and experts, however, have hinted that Moscow is the prime suspect. Germany's federal prosecutor's office — which handles the country's most serious crimes, including terrorism and threats to national security — has opened an investigation on suspicion of a deliberate attempt to cause an explosion.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz