On September 1, 2026, Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) and Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) stated at a press conference that Russia was responsible for the drone incident at Leipzig Airport in early August 2026. In response, the ministers announced the closure of the Russian Consulate General in Bonn and the Russian House in Berlin.
Putin’s reaction followed the next day. The Russian leader accused the federal government of using these measures as tactical maneuvers ahead of the upcoming state elections. Prof. Dr. Andreas Heinemann-Grüder, a senior fellow at CASSIS, analyzed Putin’s reaction in an interview with Tagesschau. According to Heinemann-Grüder, this occasion is being used an opportunity for Putin to influence the German election campaign and gain the support of parties such as the AfD, Die Linke, and BSW.