Germany warns of 'daily hybrid warfare' after explosive drone found at Leipzig airport

Drone found at Leipzig airport

An explosive-laden drone was discovered on Tuesday, August 4, at Leipzig/Halle Airport in eastern Germany, near a Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft loaded with ammunition in a restricted-access area. A bus driver circulating on the airport tarmac found the device and neutralized it by kicking it, unaware that it carried explosives. Leipzig airport serves as a strategic NATO logistics node, the main operating base for the alliance's Strategic Airlift Interim Solution (SALIS) using Antonov aircraft, and Europe's largest air hub for DHL. It also temporarily houses Ukrainian Antonov planes to protect them from Russian attacks.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt suggested on Thursday that the incident may have been an attack by a state actor, though he did not name any country. Some German lawmakers pointed to Russia, which has been at war with Ukraine since its full-scale invasion in 2022. A German Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Wednesday that Russia is behind daily attempts to exert influence in Germany in a manner that seeks to undermine democracy and erode trust in politics and politicians.

Daily hybrid warfare

In an interview with Bild am Sonntag published Sunday, Dobrindt warned that Germany faces hybrid warfare attacks from foreign powers on a daily basis.

“We're not at war, but we are the daily target of hybrid warfare.”

“Espionage, sabotage, cyberattacks, or covert operations by foreign powers aimed at destabilising Germany or inflicting direct harm are a constant reality.”

Dobrindt did not identify any countries behind the alleged attacks. The Kremlin has been accused of trying to influence September elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, states in former East Germany where pro-Russian sentiment remains strong and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) could reach regional power for the first time.

Russia rejects allegations

The Russian embassy in Berlin on Friday dismissed the Leipzig incident as a "fabricated provocation" and another example of unsubstantiated accusations against Moscow. In a statement on its official website, the embassy expressed concern about a new wave of anti-Russian hysteria in Germany and said the incident serves only the interests of Kiev and the militarist wing of the European political establishment.

“The principal danger facing Germany today lies not in the alleged 'hybrid attacks' by Moscow, which do not exist, but in the politicians who enthusiastically draft scenarios of imminent war with Russia.”

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said in a German podcast that the hybrid war conducted by Russia against European countries is essentially the same as what Europe waged against Moscow.

Further drone sightings and Bulgaria incident

Germany's armed forces confirmed on Saturday that two drones were spotted around 22:00 local time on Thursday night over a Bundeswehr base in Mechernich, North Rhine-Westphalia, about 35 km from the Belgian border. German press reported that the base houses personnel responsible for maintaining US Patriot air defense systems, which play a key role in Ukraine's defense against Russian air attacks.

Separately, a drone exploded on Saturday in Bulgaria near the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline. Bulgaria's defence ministry said there was no reason to suspect the incident was intentional. Ukraine said it was working with Bulgarian authorities to clarify the circumstances. The drone incidents across Europe have renewed concerns that Russia's war in Ukraine could increasingly affect neighbouring NATO states.

Germany's response

Germany plans to strengthen its counter-drone capacity, Bild reported citing government sources. Dobrindt's ministry wants to double the federal anti-drone expert team from 150 to 300 and expand its network of operational bases from four to eight. A new drone security research center is set to open later in August at a German Aerospace Center (DLR) test airport in Saxony-Anhalt.

Current150

Planned300

Current

150 personnel

Planned

300 personnel

Data from the article text

Current4

Planned8

Current

4 bases

Planned

8 bases

Data from the article text