Leipzig Drone Incident Marks New Escalation by Russia in Europe, Von Der Leyen Says
The EU and NATO are weighing tighter sanctions and defense coordination after Germany blamed Russia for a suspected drone sabotage incident.
- On Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hosted NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Brussels to coordinate responses to Russian hybrid operations, including the August 4 Leipzig drone sabotage incident.
- German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced Tuesday that the Leipzig/Halle airport drone sabotage matched "hybrid operations conducted by Russia," prompting Berlin to raise its threat assessment to "high."
- "Leipzig marks a new escalation on European Union soil," von der Leyen said, while Rutte echoed that Russia has become "increasingly reckless" as attacks become the "new normal."
- Germany ordered the closure of Moscow's consulate general in Bonn and terminated the Russian House agreement in Berlin, while President Vladimir Putin rejected accusations as fabricated.
- EU foreign ministers are preparing sanctions targeting 1,600 Russian individuals and entities, as Romania and Estonia reported separate drone incursions on September 1 amid broader security concerns.
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105 Articles
Von der Leyen: Leipzig Drone Attack Marks New Russian Escalation on EU Territory
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the drone incident at Germany’s Leipzig/Halle Airport as an attack carried out by Russian intelligence operatives using military-grade materials on European Union territory, Deutsche Welle reported on September 2.
The attempted drone attack on Leipzig airport, attributed to Russia, marks a new escalation of its actions on European soil and will only reinforce the European Union's determination to step up pressure on Moscow, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said today, as quoted by Reuters, BTA reported. “This was an attack using military materials carried out by Russian agents on the territory of the European Union,” Von der Leyen told r…
(Agenzia Vista) Brussels, 02 September 2026 "And at the same time we in Europe are working on the Freya project together with Ukraine. It is a European project to build our defences against ballistic missiles." Thus the President of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen in press conference in Brussels with Mark Rutte, Secretary of NATO. Courtesy: Ursula Von Der Leyen Source: Agenzia Vista / Alexander Jakhnagiev
Dnevni list Danas
n1info.rsThe president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that Europe and NATO will increase pressure on Russia, after the attempted drone attack in Leipzig, which she assessed as "a new escalation on European soil that is directly attributable to Russia."
Von der Leyen: The EU is working with Ukraine on the implementation of the FREYJA anti-ballistic project. The EU and Ukraine are working on the FREYJA project, which involves the creation of a joint anti-ballistic shield.
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