Lavrov accuses Germany of declaring war after Leipzig drone dispute
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Germany of declaring war on Russia after Berlin blamed Moscow for a drone attack on Leipzig-Halle airport, escalating tensions between the two nations. Lavrov said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's statements about making Germany Europe's leading military power amount to a de facto declaration of war, according to Russian state news agency Tass. Germany had closed Russia's last consulate and a cultural center in Berlin following the August 4 incident. Merz defended Germany's response, calling the evidence against Russia "clear, indisputable, and legally sound," while Moscow rejected the accusations as fabricated. The dispute reflects broader Western allegations of Russian hybrid warfare, including sabotage and disinformation, amid ongoing German support for Ukraine since Russia's 2022 invasion.