DISINFO: Germany fabricated a drone incident to blame Russia
SUMMARY
Berlin fabricated a story about drones to accuse Russia, yet no evidence was provided. This story was used as a pretext for the decision to close the Russian Consulate General in Bonn and terminate the agreement governing the activities of the Russian House in Berlin. Where the drones came from, what their purpose was, and why they were there - none of that mattered; what mattered was finding a pretext. Another indication of this was the fact that the entire story had been planned in advance.
RESPONSE
This is a common Russian FIMI narrative aimed at deflecting responsibility and undermining Western security assessments. It emerged following statement of the German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt that the German government has concluded that Russia was behind the drone attack on Leipzig/Halle airport on 4 August, where an explosive device attached to a drone was discovered near a Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft. German authorities treated the case as a suspected act of sabotage and transferred the investigation to prosecutors and counterterrorism authorities.
According to Interior Minister Dobrindt, investigation’s findings shows that the perpetrators used means and methods known from other Russian hybrid operations, including the configuration of the drone, components, ignition technology and explosives.
Claims that the incident was a "pretext" to close Russian institutions in Germany are speculative and seek to undermine investigations’ findings. Germany has for months reported suspicious drone sightings over military and industrial sites. But an incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport on the night of 4-5 August raised the alarm as a drone found there carried explosives near a Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft. It is the latest in a long line of attempts at destabilisation, disinformation, sabotage and aggression directed against Europe.
German Foreign Minister Wadephul stated that:
“..with the attempted attack in Leipzig, Russia’s leadership has instead made a conscious decision to inflict further significant damage on our bilateral relations, which are already under tremendous strain (..)
Germany remains secure, and Germany is defending itself against opponents who seek to spread insecurity. The Federal Government is therefore taking action against Russia as the perpetrator of the hybrid attack in Leipzig. In doing so, it is making it more difficult to carry out further hybrid measures in Germany and Europe.”
Further related cases: Ukraine may stage a provocation to regain the attention lost by the war in Iran; Ukraine prepares terrorist attacks against Russian ships with the help of Norway; Suspected EU, NATO and Ukraine terrorist attack thwarted by Russia.