Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Sunday that Germany’s accusations that Moscow was involved in the drone incident at Leipzig airport were, “by and large, the start of a real war,” state news agency TASS reported.
"All these statements by Merz about making Germany the leading military power in Europe once again – they are being put into practice. He is, in effect, declaring war on us," Lavrov said, referring to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The German government said on September 1 that it had concluded that Russia was responsible for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport last month and ordered a series of measures in response, including the closure of a consulate and a Russian cultural centre in Berlin.
The incident occurred on August 4, 2026, when an explosive-laden drone with a faulty detonator was found near Ukrainian cargo aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport, a key European logistics hub used for military and humanitarian shipments related to Ukraine.
German authorities later linked the attempted attack to a broader pattern of suspected Russian hybrid operations targeting European infrastructure and support for Kiev.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz had previously said that those responsible for such hostile acts would “pay a price.”
Moscow has consistently rejected the accusations, with Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, claiming the evidence was fabricated for domestic political reasons.
