U.S. intelligence believes an explosive-laden drone found near Germany‘s Leipzig/Halle Airport was owned by the Russian government, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing unnamed officials.
The United States had hinted at a hostile foreign actor being behind the incident, but Russia hadn’t been directly accused. Many analysts had already connected the dots, however, as the drone was found on the tarmac where a Ukrainian cargo plane was operating nearby.
The discovery of the drone prompted a closure of the airport. A similar incident occurred at the same airport shortly thereafter, when a cargo plane collided with an unidentified object following the closure and sustained minor damage. The aircraft landed safely at a nearby airport.
Officials fear the events were a plot by Russian intelligence and meant as an asymmetric operation against NATO, the U.S.-led alliance to contain Russia. The U.S. and its European allies have been aiding Ukraine from the yearslong invasion by Russia.
EXPLOSIVE DRONE WITH DETONATOR FOUND AT GERMAN AIRPORT USED BY UKRAINIAN AIRCRAFT
Russia has emerged as an expert in drone warfare over the past few years, with its skill only comparable with Ukraine. From August 2024 to February, suspicious drones were recorded in at least 144 incidents across 13 countries, according to a recent report from the U.K.’s International Institute for Strategic Studies.
One of Ukraine’s central advantages in its war with Russia is the fact that its primary supply lines are located abroad in NATO territory, which Russia won’t attack directly. Moscow has been previously accused of trying to disrupt these supply lines through espionage operations.