Berlin is preparing sanctions against Russia over the drone attack in Leipzig
Berlin is prepared to officially hold Russia responsible for the attempted drone attack in Leipzig. Germany is also considering imposing direct sanctions against Russian entities.
What Berlin Is Planning
Chancellor Friedrich Merz is preparing to hold Russia responsible for the attempted drone attack in Leipzig and to announce “broad” sanctions. This will mark yet another hardening of Berlin’s stance toward Moscow.
The government’s plan calls for direct measures against Russian entities—in parallel with new sanctions being prepared in Brussels. Three officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Politico and Welt am Sonntag about this.
The announcement is planned for early next week—it coincides with the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Ireland on Tuesday, but could take place earlier, depending on Merz.
According to one of the officials, expelling individual diplomats or closing the Russian House in Berlin is no longer sufficient in response to the incident.
Tougher measures are needed—tighter sanctions or even larger-scale arms deliveries to Ukraine. The sources did not disclose details regarding specific measures.
It remains unclear to what extent Berlin is prepared to hold individual Russian officials or the Russian government accountable. At the same time, Germany is bracing for a sharp response from Moscow and, according to officials, must be prepared for retaliatory measures.
Merz’s Reaction
As early as Tuesday, Merz stated that the incident in Leipzig would have serious consequences, though he did not name any specific party.
“The drone attack in Leipzig, among other things, shows that we are facing very real threats. The federal government is making those responsible for hybrid attacks pay the price. They will pay for this,” the chancellor said.
In response to a query from Politico, a government spokesperson noted that the chancellor’s office does not engage in speculation, and that only an official attribution of blame, based on the results of an investigation, is relevant.
New EU Sanctions Package
At the same time, another comprehensive package of sanctions against Russia is being prepared at the EU level. It is scheduled to be discussed at an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers on Tuesday and Wednesday in Wicklow, Ireland.
According to one diplomat, 1,600 sanction targets are currently under consideration—800 individuals and 800 companies from Russia. The sanctions are expected to be adopted in mid-October.
Another diplomat added that the use of frozen assets of Russian state-owned banks is once again under discussion.
This is a long-term process that will require the consent of Belgium, which has long opposed such a move. Most of the Russian Central Bank’s reserves frozen in the EU are held at Euroclear in Brussels, and Bart De Wever’s government fears retaliatory measures from Russia.
This was reported by Politico.
Two planes were diverted due to a drone near Leipzig Airport.
An airport in Germany was closed due to an unidentified UAV.
An FPV drone carrying explosives crashed into the wing of a Ukrainian An-124 “Ruslan” cargo plane at Leipzig/Halle Airport. According to Die Zeit, the drone struck the area where the fuel tanks are located, and it contained Semtex plastic explosives. The explosives did not detonate, but new details are leading German journalists to speculate about a possible targeted attack.
