Anita Orban stated that the country is ready to support Germany in countering hybrid threats from Russia (Photo: REUTERS/Axel Schmidt)
Hungary is ready to support Germany in countering Russian hybrid threats following an attempted terrorist attack at Leipzig/Halle airport, Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orban said on X on Sept. 1.
Earlier, Germany accused Russia of involvement in an incident involving an explosive-laden drone found near a Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig/Halle airport.
Orban also said Hungary is “deeply concerned by the growing number and intensity of Russian hybrid activities on European soil.”
“Recent incidents in Germany demonstrate an increasingly dangerous and reckless pattern of behavior that poses a serious threat to European security and resilience,” the statement said. “Hungary stands in full solidarity with Germany and is ready to support our partner in countering hybrid threats. In the face of these challenges, strengthening the resilience, unity, and collective preparedness of the European Union and NATO is more important than ever.”
Germany’s federal government has accused Russia of an attempted terrorist attack at Leipzig/Halle airport, where drones attempted to strike Ukrainian An-124 cargo planes.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said that, in response to the attempted attack, Berlin would close Russia’s general consulate in Bonn and shut down the Russian House cultural organization in the German capital. Germany also plans to increase pressure on Russia’s shadow fleet, Wadephul said.
The Aug. 5 drone incident at Leipzig airport
Overnight into Aug. 5, a drone rigged with a detonator and explosive material was discovered at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany, which has served as a base for Ukrainian Antonov aircraft since 2022. The drone was found on the runway near a Ukrainian An-124 Ruslan cargo plane.
The incident forced flights to be rerouted. One DHL cargo plane delayed its landing and circled for an additional pass when it collided in midair with an unknown object — possibly another drone, which pilots later confirmed.
On Aug. 6, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the incident did not appear to be the work of amateurs and that a foreign state could be involved.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said no one was injured in the Leipzig airport incident and that aircraft belonging to the Ukrainian company Antonov were not damaged.
Media reports had suggested the An-124 was loaded with ammunition, but Germany’s Interior Ministry denied this.
U.S. officials familiar with intelligence on the incident told The Wall Street Journal that the explosive-laden drone likely belonged to the Russian government.
On Aug. 25, German outlets NDR, WDR, and Süddeutsche Zeitung reported in a joint investigation that three drones were involved in the attempted attack on the Ukrainian An-124 cargo plane in Leipzig, and that the intended strike was larger in scale than previously reported.
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