Ukraine and Germany are developing joint measures to counter drones and strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure following Berlin’s attribution of an attempted attack at Leipzig Airport to Russia, European Pravda reported.
Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksii Makeiev said Kyiv is sharing its experience in detecting Russian drones and protecting energy and transport networks with Germany’s Interior Ministry.
The discussions will continue through upcoming calls and bilateral visits.
According to Makeiev, Berlin increasingly views sabotage and covert operations not as isolated attacks, but “as systemic Russian work.”
Leipzig Airport
German authorities discovered a drone carrying explosives near a Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport on August 4.
The device failed to detonate because of an apparent fault in its detonator.
Located in eastern Germany, Leipzig/Halle is one of Europe’s largest cargo hubs and is used by the Bundeswehr and NATO to transport military equipment.
It also serves as a base for Ukraine’s Antonov Airlines.
Following the formal attribution of the operation to Russia, described as part of a wider campaign of covert activity targeting Germany and other European nations, Berlin responded by ordering the closure of Russia’s consulate general in Bonn and the Russian House cultural center in the country’s capital.
Germany will also step up pressure on Russia’s shadow fleet, a network of tankers used to export Russian oil while bypassing Western sanctions.
The attribution followed a recent warning from Germany’s chief of defense, Gen. Carsten Breuer, that Russia is using drones and other hybrid tactics to probe NATO’s defenses.
Breuer said Moscow was studying how individual governments respond to such incidents and adjusting its methods to exploit potential weaknesses along the alliance’s eastern flank.