The explosive-laden drone discovered at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany near a Ukrainian An-124 aircraft belongs to Russia. The Wall Street Journal reports this, citing unnamed U.S. officials familiar with intelligence reports on the incident, reports UNN.
Details
It is noted that the suspected Russian link to the incident emerged amid U.S. intelligence statements that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin "poses an increased threat to NATO’s eastern flank."
New U.S. intelligence reports claim that Putin may try to test NATO’s resolve with a limited attack on an allied country in the next few years. ... The assessments envisage scenarios ranging from a cyberattack to a small-scale ground invasion
It is reported that German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the investigation would assess the possible involvement of foreign states in the incident, while he did not name Russia as a possible culprit, "but Western security officials said they suspect Moscow is behind many recent attempts to disrupt and attack European infrastructure."
"U.S. and European leaders are increasingly seeing signs that Russia is carrying out probing attacks to test NATO’s resolve, including Russian cruise missiles that fell in Poland and drones that flew into Romania," the publication summarizes.
Context
Earlier this week, a drone with a detonator was discovered at Leipzig Airport next to a Ukrainian "Antonov" aircraft.
The authorities later stated that they were investigating the incident as possible sabotage, while the interior minister called it a hybrid attack.
Later, Germany’s National Security Council, chaired by Chancellor Merz, discussed the drone incident near the Ukrainian cargo aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport. The interior minister does not rule out the involvement of foreign states and a hybrid attack.