On the night of August 4-5, 2026, two drones loaded with explosives were used in an attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle airport near a Ukrainian Antonov aircraft. One drone was discovered near the airport but its explosive failed to detonate due to a technical fault. Parts of a second drone with remnants of the same explosive were found in a nearby field ten days later. Additional evidence included an antenna found near Kursdorf and metal parts possibly from a third drone. The drones were equipped with SIM cards for mobile network control but had limited flight range capabilities. DNA traces linked one drone to an individual connected to Russian intelligence. German authorities, including the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the Federal Criminal Police Office, concluded that the attack fit a recognized pattern of Russian hybrid operations using disposable agents acting for Russian state services. Although no suspects have been detained yet, the evidence and intelligence gathered by German and allied agencies indicate Russian state responsibility. The German government publicly attributed the hybrid attack to Russia on September 1, 2026, after careful verification to counter Russian denial and disinformation campaigns.

On the night of August 4-5, 2026, two drones loaded with explosives were used in an attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle airport near a Ukrainian Antonov aircraft. One drone was discovered near the airport but its explosive failed to detonate due to a technical fault. Parts of a second drone with remnants of the same explosive were found in a nearby field ten days later. Additional evidence included an antenna found near Kursdorf and metal parts possibly from a third drone. The drones were equipped with SIM cards for mobile network control but had limited flight range capabilities. DNA traces linked one drone to an individual connected to Russian intelligence. German authorities, including the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the Federal Criminal Police Office, concluded that the attack fit a recognized pattern of Russian hybrid operations using disposable agents acting for Russian state services. Although no suspects have been detained yet, the evidence and intelligence gathered by German and allied agencies indicate Russian state responsibility. The German government publicly attributed the hybrid attack to Russia on September 1, 2026, after careful verification to counter Russian denial and disinformation campaigns.