Germany identifies two Russian-linked suspects in Leipzig drone attack on Ukrainian cargo plane

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15 days · 7 summary articles
German authorities have identified two Russian-linked suspects in an attempted drone attack on a Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig/Halle Airport, according to reports by Süddeutsche Zeitung, NDR, and WDR.
One suspect is a Russian-born man holding a Latvian passport, described by investigators as the logistics coordinator and instructor for the operation. He entered Germany via Berlin Brandenburg Airport on July 29, traveled to Leipzig by rental car, and left the country on Aug. 6, two days before the incident. The second suspect, a Belarusian national with a Russian passport, was linked to the scene through DNA traces found on a drone, a can filled with explosives, and an antenna near the airport. He entered the Schengen zone using an Italian tourist visa issued in Minsk in late April.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that forensic evidence, operational patterns, and intelligence confirmed Russian responsibility for the Aug. 4 attack, in which a drone carrying explosives was discovered near an Antonov AN-124 cargo aircraft. A second drone later struck a DHL cargo plane, and a third was found nearby with explosive residue.
In response, Germany announced the closure of Russia’s consulate in Bonn, the termination of the contract for the Russian House cultural institute in Berlin, and stricter entry controls for Russian citizens. Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said authorities would investigate reports that one suspect used an Italian-issued visa to enter the EU. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called for tighter visa rules, citing risks to European security.
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