Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused Germany of declaring war on Russia after the German government attributed last month's drone incident at Leipzig Airport to Moscow. This comes as part of a broader response from Russia, with Lavrov labeling accusations that Moscow was involved in the attack "the start of a real war". The German government has already implemented security measures in response, including ordering the closure of a Russian consulate and cultural center. Germany is also planning to install an anti-sabotage "cyberdome" to detect and intercept potential hacking attacks.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Germany is taking steps to defend itself against a series of suspected Russian sabotage attempts, including a failed drone attack at Leipzig Airport last month. The incident has led to a significant escalation in tensions between Germany and Russia, with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accusing Germany of moving towards war. In response, the German government has announced plans to establish an "anti-sabotage shield" to protect against future attacks, which will include the expansion of police mobile drone defence capabilities and the creation of a national "cyberdome" to detect and intercept hacking attempts. The US has also weighed in, with NATO envoy Matthew Whitaker stating that the alliance will not tolerate hybrid actions against its members. Meanwhile, Russia's President Vladimir Putin has denied any involvement in the Leipzig attack, while accusing Germany of fabricating evidence. This latest round of tensions follows a significant deterioration in relations between Europe and Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which saw the collapse of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and a fundamental shift in German foreign policy under Chancellor Olaf Scholz's "Zeitenwende" strategy.
Written for “Russia Europe Tensions Escalate” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 12 other(s) covering the same event.
In short:
Russia's foreign minister has called accusations that Moscow was implicated in last month's drone incident at Leipzig Airport in Germany "the start of a real war".
asserted
Moscow → call → war
The German government concluded last week that Russia was responsible for the alleged drone attack.
What's next?
asserted
What → conclude → attack
Germany has ordered a raft of security measures after the incident, including installing an anti-sabotage "cyberdome".
asserted
Germany → order → cyberdome
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says the accusations levelled at Moscow that Russia was involved in the drone incident at Germany's Leipzig airport were "by and large, the start of a real war."
asserted
Russia → say → war
"All these statements by [German Chancellor Friedrich] Merz about making Germany the leading military power in Europe once again — they are being put into practice," Mr Lavrov said on Sunday, state news agency TASS reported.
"
asserted
TASS → make → Sunday
He is, in effect, declaring war on us."
asserted
He → declare → us
The German government said on September 1 it had concluded that Russia was responsible for an alleged drone attack at Leipzig Airport last month and ordered a series of measures in response, including the closure of a consulate and a Russian cultural centre in Berlin.
asserted
Russia → say → Berlin
Russia has long rejected allegations it is carrying out operations in Western Europe and has denied involvement in the German airport attack, accusing Berlin of planting evidence to frame Russia for the attack.
asserted
it → reject → attack
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Saturday, local time, that the incident shows Germany is facing a "profound rupture", with far-reaching consequences that will only become clear in retrospect.
asserted
that → say → retrospect
Speaking at a party event near Hanover, Mr Merz said the German government's attribution of the attack to Russia was "clear and legally sound" and sent a clear warning to Russia not to continue this type of hybrid warfare.
asserted
attribution → speak → warfare
Germany to install anti-sabotage 'cyberdome'
asserted
Germany → install → cyberdome
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper that one of the measures the country would take in response to incident involved an anti-sabotage shield called a "cyberdome".
asserted
country → tell → shield
Mr Dobrindt added that Russia's hybrid attacks had become a part of daily reality.
asserted
attacks → add → reality
"These attacks will increase, but we can defend and protect ourselves,"Mr Dobrindt said.
asserted
Dobrindt → increase → ?
Police mobile drone defence capabilities would be expanded under the plan, a military spokesperson said, with rapidly deployable counter-drone units stationed in cities to protect the airspace above critical transport hubs and government districts.
asserted
units → expand → hubs
Companies operating critical infrastructure, such as power utilities and defence manufacturers, would be granted the legal authority to not merely detect drones but also actively fend them off.
asserted
Companies → operate → them
A national protective shield — or "cyberdome" — would be established, involving a network of digital sensors designed to detect and intercept attempted hacking attacks.
asserted
shield → establish → attacks
The government also intends to expand the use of AI-supported technologies, biometric facial recognition and video surveillance to identify suspected attackers preparing acts of sabotage.
asserted
government → intend → sabotage
NATO should not tolerate 'hybrid' war
asserted
NATO → tolerate → war
Also on Saturday, US ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said members should not tolerate deliberate actions of hybrid war.
asserted
members → say → war
Mr Whitaker said the incident last month was more worrying than other recent incidents NATO members have faced due to Russian drones targeting Ukraine that strayed off course.
"Then you have what I would call the more concerning hybrid actions like we saw in Leipzig, like we have seen in Poland," Mr Whitaker said speaking on the sidelines of a business conference in Italy.
asserted
Whitaker → say → Italy
"If we can identify who's doing it — which Germany did — we make sure we express strongly that is unacceptable and we will not tolerate it.
asserted
we → identify → it
Critical infrastructure, including energy assets, could be targeted and should be monitored by national authorities, he added.
uncertain
he → include → authorities
The response to these challenges is primarily national, but the United States supports countries when they are dealing with these acts, he said.
Reuters
asserted
he → support → acts
