Russia Closes German Consulate in St. Petersburg and Goethe Institute Branches

Russia announced retaliatory measures against Germany, closing Germany's consulate general in St. Petersburg and all Goethe Institute branches in Russia. The moves follow Berlin's accusations of Russian involvement in a drone attack at Leipzig/Halle airport. The Russian Foreign Ministry ordered the German consulate in St. Petersburg to cease operations by September 18, with all staff required to leave Russia by that date. Goethe Institute cultural center employees must depart by September 13, according to official notes delivered to Germany's charge d'affaires in Moscow. Russia cited Germany's closure of its consulate in Bonn and the Russian House of Science and Culture in Berlin as the reason for these actions. Berlin imposed those measures after linking Russia to the August 4 discovery of an explosive-laden drone near a Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft at Leipzig airport.