Germany Plans Anti-Sabotage Shield Against Russian Threats

Germany's Interior Ministry plans to create a comprehensive protective shield against further Russian sabotage, including cyberattacks, following a drone incident at Leipzig airport. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced the initiative in a Sunday interview with Bild am Sonntag. The security plan includes deploying special units in nine strategic cities and protecting airspace over key transport hubs and Berlin's government district from drones. Critical infrastructure operators, including energy and defense companies, will receive legal authority to actively counter drone attacks. A national "Cyberdome" digital sensor network will also be established to intercept hacker attacks. The move follows an August 4 drone attack attempt on a Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig/Halle airport, which Germany attributed to Russia on September 1. Berlin responded by closing Russia's consulate in Bonn and the Russian House in Berlin, while EU and NATO expressed support, though German opposition politicians criticized the measures as either insufficient or escalatory.