Germany Finds Third Drone and Explosives Near Leipzig Airport After Suspected Sabotage

Discoveries around Leipzig airport

German law enforcement authorities have uncovered a third drone and military-grade explosives in the vicinity of Leipzig/Halle airport, widening the scope of an investigation into an early August sabotage attempt. The unmanned aerial vehicle was located on 14 August 2026 in an agricultural field in Kabelsketal, a municipality bordering the western perimeter of the airfield. On 15 August 2026, search teams operating in the same sector secured approximately 50 grams of a substance identified in preliminary assessments as hexogen, also known as RDX. Three days prior, on 11 August 2026, search units had already retrieved an engine and a rotor blade belonging to an unmanned aircraft. Broadcasters NDR and WDR alongside the newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported that security services suspect the perpetrators prepared an operation on a broader scale than initially assessed.

The initial airport incident

The sequence began during the night of 4 August 2026 when flight operations at Leipzig/Halle airport were halted following the discovery of a drone carrying a detonator and explosives on the apron. Security services determined that the device deliberately struck the wing of a parked Ukrainian Antonov An-124 cargo aircraft used to deliver military supplies. The explosive payload failed to ignite due to a malfunction in the detonator mechanism. Minutes later, a DHL cargo transport plane approaching the airport collided near the perimeter fence with an object estimated by pilots at 30 centimetres in size. The DHL aircraft aborted its landing and diverted safely to Hanover, where inspections revealed structural damage to its tail stabilizer, while the drone itself was destroyed without recoverable debris.

Control station found in Kursdorf

Investigators expanding their search to surrounding areas identified an improvised ground control station in the village of Kursdorf, situated north of the airport grounds in Saxony. An antenna was fastened with adhesive tape to a tree alongside auxiliary electronic equipment used to operate unmanned aircraft. Several metres from the transmission assembly, forensic teams documented patches of scorched earth and partially melted metal fragments. Investigators assessed that an explosion occurred at the location during or immediately following the operation. The Federal Public Prosecutor General took charge of the proceedings, investigating suspected attempted detonation of explosives and dangerous interference with civil aviation traffic.

Political reaction and intelligence assessments

German security agencies suspect Russian intelligence services, including the military intelligence agency GRU, orchestrated the coordinated attempt, though the government has not issued a formal diplomatic indictment and Moscow denies any involvement. Chancellor Friedrich Merz addressed the findings on 25 August 2026 in Neuhardenberg ahead of a federal cabinet meeting, stating that the government will present detailed findings soon.

We have problems that partly come from the outside and which we cannot ignore.

Merz stated that Germany has become a target for hybrid operations, adding that perpetrators increasingly accept severe property damage and casualties. He reaffirmed that Germany will maintain its foreign policy course and continue providing aid to Ukraine.