Two suspects identified in attempted attack on Ukrainian Antonov aircraft

The suspects are a Russian-born man holding a Latvian passport and a Belarus-born man holding a Russian passport, the newspaper reported.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described them as “low-level agents” and said they had “acted on behalf of Russian state agencies.”

Investigators believe the Latvian passport holder has ties to Russian intelligence. He is thought to have entered Germany in late July through Berlin Brandenburg Airport before traveling to Leipzig in a rental car.

The suspect reportedly left Germany again two days before the drone incident, departing from the same Berlin airport.

Investigators found DNA traces on one of the drones that led them to the second suspect. Comparison with European databases reportedly produced matches in Lithuania and Finland.

The second suspect is believed to have entered Germany on an Italian tourist visa issued by the Italian Embassy in Minsk in late April.

Drone carrying explosives found near Ukrainian aircraft

Overnight on Aug. 5, a drone equipped with a detonator and explosives was discovered at Leipzig/Halle Airport, 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 aircraft.

Dobrindt said on Aug. 6 that investigators could not rule out the involvement of a foreign state.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry later said no one was injured in the incident and that Antonov aircraft at the airport were not damaged.

The German federal government formally accused Russia on Sept. 1 of involvement in the attempted terrorist attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport.

Germany shuts last Russian consulate

Deutsche Welle reported on Sept. 2 that Germany had closed the Russian Consulate General in Bonn following the Leipzig incident.

It was Russia’s last consulate general operating in Germany.

Russian citizens seeking consular services in Germany will now have to use the Russian Embassy in Berlin.