Germany is facing daily 'hybrid warfare' attacks from foreign actors, according to a senior official, after an explosive-laden drone was found at Leipzig/Halle airport in the east of the country. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told Bild am Sonntag on Sunday that foreign powers aim to subjugate Germany politically and socially by sowing fear.
'We are not at war, but we are a daily target of hybrid warfare,' Dobrindt said. 'Espionage, sabotage, cyberattacks, or covert operations by foreign powers designed to destabilize Germany or cause direct damage are a constant reality.'
He did not identify any specific country behind the alleged incidents. His comments came after a drone equipped with explosives was discovered at Leipzig/Halle airport last Tuesday. Several German lawmakers have blamed Russia, which has been at war with Ukraine since its full-scale invasion in 2022. Russia's embassy in Berlin on Friday dismissed the Leipzig incident as a 'staged provocation,' calling it another example of baseless allegations against Moscow.
In response, Bild reported that Germany plans to bolster its counter-drone capabilities. According to government sources, the Interior Ministry wants to double the federal anti-drone expert team from 150 to 300 personnel and increase the number of related bases from four to eight.
Germany's armed forces said on Saturday that two drones were detected late Thursday night over a military base in Mechernich, in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Separately, a drone exploded on Saturday in Bulgaria near the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline. Bulgaria's Defense Ministry said there was no reason to suspect the incident was intentional. Ukraine said it is coordinating with Bulgarian authorities to clarify the situation.
The string of drone incidents across Europe has raised concerns that Russia's war in Ukraine could increasingly spill over into neighboring NATO countries. NATO and European Union officials have previously blamed Russia for drone sightings, while Moscow denies any involvement.
