Russia closes St. Petersburg consulate after Leipzig drone dispute

Russia is closing Germany's consulate general in St. Petersburg by September 18, retaliating for German measures linked to a drone incident in Leipzig. The Russian Foreign Ministry announced the closure, also ordering all Goethe Institutes in Russia to shut and their staff to leave by September 13. Germany had accused Russia of a failed drone attack at Leipzig/Halle airport, prompting Berlin to announce the closure of Russia's House in Berlin and its consulate in Bonn, plus stricter entry controls for Russian nationals. A German Foreign Office spokesman called Russia's move a "regrettable mistake" complicating constructive ties. Russia dismissed the German accusations as fabricated, with President Vladimir Putin calling them a "serious error." Moscow's statement accused German authorities of provoking "a new round of escalation" in bilateral relations.