German law enforcement agencies have identified two suspects in the preparation of an attack on a Ukrainian transport aircraft at Leipzig airport. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the Sueddeutsche Zeitung. According to the investigation, both individuals have ties to Russia: one is a man of Russian origin holding a Latvian passport, the other is a citizen of Belarus who also holds a Russian passport. According to the publication, it was these two who participated in planning the attack in early August 2026.
Who are the suspects
According to the prosecution, the Latvian citizen of Russian origin has links to Russian intelligence. He reportedly entered Germany in late July through Berlin's BER airport and then moved to Leipzig in a rented car. Two days before the failed drone attack, the suspect allegedly left Germany again. The second suspect was identified through DNA traces found at the scene: he entered the country on an Italian tourist visa and holds both Belarusian and Russian passports. At the same time, sources note that investigators are skeptical about the prospects of bringing either of them to criminal trial.
How the attack was allegedly planned
Experts from the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) believe that the perpetrators planned to use more drones in the attack than previously thought. This indicates a larger scale of preparation than initially assumed. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that the attempted attack was "professionally planned" and carried out "with a high degree of technical expertise and significant organizational effort." In his words, the conclusions point to individuals acting "on behalf of Russian state bodies," whom he called "low-level agents."
Official position of Berlin and diplomatic consequences
On September 1, 2026, Germany officially accused Russia of a hybrid drone attack on Leipzig airport. Against this backdrop, Berlin took a series of countermeasures: it is closing the Russian consulate in Bonn, terminating the agreement on the "Russian House," and initiating the introduction of new sanctions within the EU. Thus, the incident has escalated from a criminal case into a diplomatic crisis between Germany and Moscow.
Contradictory data
The positions of the parties on the essence of the incident diverge. On the one hand, German authorities and investigative bodies assert that the attack was deliberate, professionally prepared, and carried out by individuals acting on behalf of Russian state structures, with the FPV drone striking the most vulnerable part of the aircraft's wing — the area where the fuel tanks are located. On the other hand, the Russian embassy in Berlin called what happened a "hastily planned provocation," effectively denying state involvement. In addition, there is a discrepancy in the assessment of the scale: initially, one drone with explosives was reported, whereas BKA experts now believe that several devices were planned to be used. These discrepancies in versions and figures require further verification during the investigation.
What is known about the attack itself
According to available data, on the night of August 5, 2026, a drone with explosives was found near a Ukrainian cargo aircraft An-124 at Leipzig airport, causing the airport to temporarily suspend operations. It was also reported that investigators found another drone with explosives. The impact of the FPV drone on the wing's fuel tank area, according to experts, indicates a deliberate nature of the attack rather than a demonstrative "warning." On board and near the aircraft, judging by the photographs, Ukrainian cargo aviation with markings and national symbols was present, confirming the aircraft's affiliation with the Ukrainian transport fleet.
