Berlin blames Russia for attempted drone attack

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.