The Russian Foreign Ministry announced a “mirror” response to new German sanctions. This comes after the German government held Moscow responsible for an attempted attack using an explosive drone at Leipzig airport.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Deutsche Presse-Agentur in Moscow that the response would be the same as to previous unilateral and unjust sanctions. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) announced the sanctions on Tuesday.
German measures and Russia’s possible response
Johann Wadephul said that, in particular, the Russian consulate in Bonn should be closed and the contract for the Russian House in Berlin terminated. In Moscow, amid earlier discussions about the possible closure of the Russian House, officials have repeatedly stated that the Goethe-Institut ought to cease its operations in response.
Maria Zakharova also accused Germany of involvement in terrorist attacks against Russian citizens, describing Berlin as the biggest supporter of Ukraine. “Berlin sponsors terrorism,” she said, referring to Germany’s arms supplies and multi‑billion‑euro aid to Ukraine.
Russia’s denials and intelligence claims
Russia denied involvement in the Leipzig incident, calling it a provocation that “exclusively serves the interests of Kyiv and the militarist wing of the European political elite.” A previously published statement by the Russian embassy in Berlin argued that Ukraine and European governments need justification to continue channeling “unlimited financial resources into the hands of the corrupt regime” in Kyiv.
Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) last week claimed that Ukraine was allegedly rejoicing over the media attention surrounding the discovery of the drone in Leipzig. “Kyiv is rejoicing,” the service said, adding that another possible aim was to deprive opposition forces in German society—who advocate pragmatic relations with Russia—of arguments. In Saxony‑Anhalt, the pro‑Russian AfD hopes for victory in the state‑parliament elections on September 6.
The SVR also criticised the pattern seen after the explosions on the Baltic pipelines Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, where responsibility was immediately placed on Russia. In the pipeline cases, Ukrainian suspects are now being named. The Russian intelligence service has repeatedly alleged false‑flag operations by Ukrainian special services aimed at blaming Russia and prompting new sanctions against Moscow.
Source: Der Spiegel
