Russia announced Monday that it will close the German consulate in St. Petersburg, ordering its staff to cease operations and depart by September 18. This action is a direct response to Germany’s recent decision to close both the Russian consulate in Bonn and the Russian House cultural center in Berlin.
The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that the closure of the German cultural centers in Russia, previously announced, will also proceed, with employees required to leave by Sunday. The ministry characterized Germany's actions as "unfriendly."
Germany had cited Russia's alleged involvement in an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport on August 4 as justification for its closures. During the incident, a drone carrying explosives was discovered near a Ukrainian plane at the airport, a key hub for international freight operations supporting Ukraine. The drone was subsequently defused. Russia has denied any involvement in the alleged attack.