Russia announced Thursday it will close German cultural centers across the country, escalating a diplomatic dispute that began after Germany accused Moscow of orchestrating an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport last month.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Germany's Goethe-Institut centers in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg would be shuttered. He indicated that any further response would demonstrate a lack of "self-respect" from Russia. Lavrov added that Germany "could not have failed to understand" that the closure of the Russian House in Berlin would "signify the end of their cultural presence in Russia."
The dispute centers on a drone laden with explosives found near a Ukrainian plane at Leipzig/Halle Airport on August 4 and subsequently defused. The airport serves as a significant international freight hub that facilitates support for Ukraine.
Western officials have frequently accused Moscow of conducting a campaign of sabotage and disruption aimed at undermining support for Ukraine and destabilizing European nations. Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed these allegations, suggesting that Berlin is attempting to distract from its own domestic issues and voter dissatisfaction, and claiming that any evidence presented has been "planted."
European Union ministers convened this week to discuss responses to the drone incident, but reportedly struggled to identify new measures beyond existing sanctions. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the incident as bearing "all the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism" and noted that the bloc was already preparing additional travel bans and asset freezes on approximately 1,600 Russian individuals.
Germany maintains it is not at war with Russia but has become a "daily target" of the Kremlin's hybrid warfare tactics. German Foreign Minister Johan Wadephul asserted that Berlin had meticulously prepared its response and that "Russia must live with these consequences," while urging Russia to engage in "reasonable talks and negotiations, particularly regarding the situation in Ukraine."