Kallas Accuses Russia of ‘State-Sponsored Terrorism’ Over Leipzig Attack

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has accused Russia of carrying out what she described as a state-sponsored terrorist attack after Germany formally blamed Moscow for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport on Aug. 4.

“It is clear that it has all the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism,” Kallas told reporters on Sept. 2 ahead of an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Wicklow, Ireland, where European diplomats were expected to discuss the incident, possible countermeasures and additional sanctions against Russia.

Drones were discovered at Leipzig Airport on Aug. 4, including one that struck a cargo aircraft. A second unmanned aerial vehicle later collided with an aircraft, preventing the plane from landing. Media reports and U.S. intelligence assessments had pointed to Moscow, before the German government formally attributed the incident to Russia on Sept. 1.

Kallas said the informal foreign ministers' meeting would not take decisions on a response, but would provide an opportunity to discuss the incident and possible sanctions. She said the EU already had a large package of restrictions in preparation.

“We already have in the pipeline 1,600 listings for the military complex of Russia, and maybe there are more to be added... member states have brought even more,” Kallas said.

The proposed 22nd sanctions package is expected to contain the largest number of restrictions imposed on Russian entities in a single EU move. European leaders hope to approve it in the autumn. Afterward, the bloc wants to establish a faster system for identifying individuals and organizations supporting Russia's war effort and imposing restrictions on them more quickly.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was also due to meet NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Brussels to discuss the Leipzig incident and Europe's broader response to Russian hybrid threats. The meeting comes after a series of incidents across Europe over the summer that governments have linked to hybrid warfare.

“We will keep the EU united despite these escalating and serious acts,” von der Leyen said. “The German government has taken strong measures. And the message is clear: hybrid attacks will not go without a clear response.”

The meeting between von der Leyen and Rutte was arranged at short notice and is also expected to focus on strengthening cooperation between the EU and NATO. A NATO official said the discussions would center largely on improving coordination against hybrid threats.

Rutte has already expressed full solidarity with Germany, saying that the evidence linking Russia to the Leipzig incident was clear.

“NATO will continue to strengthen our ability to deter and defend all Allies against any threat, including malign actions like those seen in Leipzig and elsewhere across the Alliance,” Rutte said.

Germany's Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced on Sept. 1 that Berlin had concluded Russia was responsible for the Aug. 4 incident. He said the methods used in the sabotage attempt were known to have been used in other Russian hybrid operations connected to the war against Ukraine.

“The German government therefore concludes that Russia is responsible for the hybrid attack in Leipzig on 4 August,” Dobrindt said.

Berlin has responded by ordering the closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn and the Russian House in Berlin. Foreign Affairs Minister Johann Wadephul said the Leipzig incident was part of a wider campaign targeting Europe.

He described it as a “long series of attempts at destabilisation, disinformation, threats, sabotage and aggression directed at Europe.”

Russia has rejected Germany's accusations. The Russian embassy in Germany denied responsibility and warned of consequences over the new sanctions. The Russian Foreign Ministry had also criticized European governments in late August for blaming Moscow before the investigation into the incident had been completed.

According to the German account, a drone was found on Aug. 4 inside the security zone of Leipzig/Halle Airport near a Ukrainian cargo aircraft used to transport military supplies. A second drone later collided with an aircraft, leaving the plane unable to land.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had previously promised a response to the incidents, with Berlin expected to coordinate its measures with EU and NATO allies.

Kallas said the Leipzig incident was part of a broader pattern of increasingly frequent kinetic hybrid actions by Russia intended to intimidate European countries and weaken their support for Ukraine.

“They will not succeed,” she said, while warning that Europe was not doing enough to prevent such incidents.

Kallas said the risks were clearly increasing. Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee, speaking alongside her, said that “support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia” remained central to Ireland's six-month presidency of the EU Council.

McEntee pointed to recent reports from Romania, Latvia and Estonia, as well as Germany, involving alleged incursions into airspace and territory. Romania and Estonia both reported drone incursions on Tuesday. Several improvised explosive devices were also discovered near a coal-fired power plant in Germany that day in what authorities suspected was a deliberate attack.

Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said Europe needed to prepare for further Russian hybrid operations.

“They are testing always this threshold, where is this red line,” Pevkur said, urging European governments to maintain a “very clear” head when responding to the incidents.

European leaders have rallied behind Germany. French President Emmanuel Macron said France stood in full solidarity with Berlin and supported new European sanctions against Russia.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said attempts to intimidate European countries or divide their alliances would fail, stressing that hybrid attacks against one ally should concern all members and receive a united response.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Russia was escalating tensions across Europe but would not succeed in intimidating the continent.

“Russia will not win this war,” Tusk said.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson similarly accused Russia of trying to intimidate Europe and frighten countries supporting Ukraine. He said the effort would fail and announced that he would chair a meeting of Sweden's National Security Council.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda also backed Germany's response, saying the strong measures taken by Berlin demonstrated that hybrid actions against one European country would receive a clear response from the others.

“Anyone who attacks us will pay a price,” Nausėda said.