Germany has directly accused Russia of preparing an explosive drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport, but Berlin’s response has remained relatively restrained. A new Foreign Policy analysis argues that domestic politics, fear of escalation and uncertainty over how to answer Russia’s hybrid warfare are limiting how far Germany is willing to go.
Leipzig Marked a New Escalation
German authorities discovered an explosives-laden drone near a Ukrainian cargo aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport in August. Chancellor Friedrich Merz later said the operation had been prepared in Russia over several months and that a major disaster was avoided largely by chance.
Germany responded by closing a Russian diplomatic mission and cultural center, tightening travel restrictions on Russian nationals and pushing for additional EU sanctions. Russia denies involvement.
For some European officials, that is not enough. EU foreign-policy chief Kaja Kallas said the attack had the hallmarks of “state-sponsored terrorism,” while NATO’s US ambassador warned that the alliance cannot tolerate increasingly deliberate hybrid attacks against its members.
Germany Has More Powerful Options
Berlin could theoretically go further.
Foreign Policy notes that Germany could support tougher action against Russia’s shadow fleet, expand sanctions or conduct offensive cyber operations. It also chose not to invoke NATO Article 4, which allows allies to formally consult when a member believes its security is threatened.
But Germany is trying to avoid turning a gray-zone confrontation into direct military escalation with a nuclear-armed Russia.
Domestic Politics Make a Tougher Response Harder
The other constraint is inside Germany.
The AfD, which favors closer ties with Moscow and opposes much of Germany’s support for Ukraine, recently won its first state election. Foreign Policy also points to support for Russia-friendly positions among parts of Germany’s far left.
That makes a tougher Russia policy politically more difficult for Merz, particularly as public concerns about escalation remain strong.
Russia’s Hybrid Campaign Is Getting Bigger
The Leipzig case is part of a much wider problem.
Research cited by Foreign Policy counted 151 hostile Russian operations across Europe between February 2022 and February 2026. Another study recorded 144 drone sightings across 12 European countries between August 2024 and February 2026, concluding that a coordinated Kremlin-linked UAV campaign was highly likely.
The threat is also moving beyond drones. NATO allies recently said they disrupted a Russian operation targeting undersea communications cables near Svalbard, highlighting growing concern over attacks on Europe’s critical infrastructure.
Germany is no longer avoiding the issue. Publicly accusing Russia of attacking German territory is itself a significant change. But Berlin is still searching for a response strong enough to deter Moscow without triggering a larger confrontation or deepening political divisions at home. The risk is that if Europe continues responding to each incident separately, Russia may conclude that hybrid attacks remain relatively cheap to carry out.
