Petersburg must close by Sept. 18, in response to Berlin’s recent “unfriendly actions,” Russia’s foreign ministry announced Monday. While the embassy and consular services in Moscow remain open, the consulate in the northwest of the country must cease all operations and all staff must leave Russia by the specified date. All responsibility for the consequences lies entirely with the Government of Germany,” the statement reads, referring to Berlin’s announcement last week that Russia was behind a drone attack on German territory.
The attempted attack involved three drones carrying explosive material spotted at or near the Leipzig-Halle Airport, one of which was found near a Ukrainian Antonov plane used to transport munitions. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul unveiled a series of domestic countermeasures against the Kremlin, including the closure on Sept. 18 of Russia’s consulate in Bonn and the Russian House cultural institution in Berlin. Russia also said it would close branches of the German cultural center, the Goethe-Institut, in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Novosibirsk.
In recent months, EU countries have faced a growing number of suspected Russian attacks targeting military and critical infrastructure. In August, two drones were spotted over a Bundeswehr site in Germany, while Poland investigated the deliberate arson of a drone factory near Warsaw as possible foreign sabotage. Interior Minister Alexander Dorbindt warned that his country has yet to witness more attacks: “We assume that Germany is the target of further hybrid attacks by Russia.
It can also be assumed that there is a willingness to cause even greater damage through hybrid attacks,” he said.
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