The Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said attempts to intimidate democracies would not succeed, adding that Greece remains steadfast and will maintain a credible deterrent to protect its citizens and security.

His post read in full:

“Greece expresses its full solidarity with Germany following Russia’s hybrid attack in Leipzig. Attempts to intimidate our democracies will not succeed. We remain steadfast and will maintain a credible deterrent force to protect our citizens and our security.”

Earlier the same day, Germany officially announced that a Russian intelligence agency was responsible for the attempted drone attack on Leipzig airport in early August. As a result, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul announced Germany’s first bilateral sanctions against Russia.

“Russia is responsible for the hybrid attack on 4 August,” said Dobrindt, adding that Germany is the target of further hybrid attacks and that Russia’s intent to carry out even larger strikes was evident. He explained that the Leipzig incident, involving an armed drone found near Ukrainian transport aircraft, was not an isolated case but part of a broader plan of hybrid attacks, confirming the already high level of threat. “We are not at war, but we are a daily target of hybrid warfare,” the interior minister said.

He noted that the methods and explosives used were consistent with previous Russian attacks and explained that the technology found at the scene revealed a high level of technical expertise, although the attacks themselves were carried out by so-called “low-level” agents, untrained civilians recruited by Russian intelligence services.

In response to the attempted Russian attack, Germany “is defending itself against its adversaries,” Foreign Minister Wadephul said, assuring that the German government would continue to firmly support Ukraine’s defence efforts. He also announced the following sanctions measures: Russia’s Consulate General in Bonn will close on 18 September, the agreement governing the “Russian House” (a cultural centre affiliated with the Russian embassy) will be terminated, entry checks for Russian citizens will be tightened, the Russian ambassador in Berlin will be summoned to the German Foreign Ministry to be handed an official protest, and pressure on Russia’s shadow fleet will be increased.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz did not take part in this evening’s press conference, though the two ministers clarified that they were speaking on behalf of the entire government and that Merz had taken part in all the necessary consultations on the matter.

Moscow warns it will respond to Germany’s “anti-Russian actions”

Russia will respond to Germany’s “anti-Russian actions,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said today, according to the Interfax news agency, after Berlin accused Moscow of the attempted drone attack on Leipzig/Halle airport last month.

Earlier, Germany, in response to the incident, decided on a series of measures, including the closure of the Russian cultural centre in Berlin and the Russian consulate in Bonn.