Germany to Impose New Sanctions on Russia Following Leipzig Drone Attempt

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to announce a new round of sanctions targeting Russian entities in response to the attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport. The announcement, planned for early next week, will coincide with an EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Ireland, where Brussels is also finalising a broader sanctions package against Russia.

According to three officials familiar with the plan, the German government intends to move beyond diplomatic expulsions and the closure of the Russian House in Berlin, considering intensified sanctions and possibly increased arms deliveries to Ukraine. The officials declined to detail the specific measures Merz will disclose.

Merz previously warned that the perpetrators of “hybrid attacks” would face consequences, stating, “The drone attack in Leipzig, among other things, shows that we are also facing very real threats. The federal government is making the perpetrators of hybrid attacks pay a price.” A government spokesperson added that the chancellery will base any attribution on the results of the investigation and will not speculate.

The Leipzig incident, in which an explosive-laden drone was aimed at a Ukrainian cargo plane, has been linked by German media and U.S. intelligence to Russia, though Moscow denies involvement. The move comes amid a series of security incidents across Europe that officials have described as hybrid warfare.

At the EU level, diplomats said about 1,600 potential sanctions targets – roughly half individuals and half companies – are under review, with a decision expected in mid-October. Discussions also include the possible use of frozen Russian state bank assets, a measure that would require Belgium’s consent.

The timing of the German announcement is notable ahead of regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin, where the far-right Alternative for Germany, which has a pro-Russia stance, is polling strongly.