Germany blames Russia for airport drone incident, hits back with sanctions

Germany on Tuesday blamed Russia for an attempted “hybrid attack” involving an explosive-laden drone at a strategic airport last month and announced diplomatic countermeasures. The European Union expressed “full solidarity” with Germany; Nato assured that it would defend its members and countries including Britain, Estonia and Poland offered strong backing. Germany will close Russia’s consulate in the former capital, Bonn, later this month and cancel the contract for the Russian House, a cultural centre in Berlin, said Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul. “We are tightening entry controls for Russian nationals,” and Germany would propose the listing of more Russian individuals for European Union sanctions, he added, as the Russian ambassador to Berlin was being summoned. Germany’s top diplomat also vowed that “we are increasing pressure on the Russian shadow fleet” — a term for the old oil tankers and other cargo ships with opaque ownership Russia uses to get around Western sanctions. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said that after assessing the drone technology used and other intelligence, “the government concludes that Russia is responsible for the hybrid attack in Leipzig on A