Russia Summons German Diplomat Over Leipzig Drone Accusations

Russia has summoned Germany’s top diplomat in the country, the Charge d’Affaires, to the Foreign Ministry in Moscow. The move comes after Berlin accused Russia of involvement in drone activity near a German military base. The German government previously said it had evidence linking Russian actors to the flights of unidentified drones over the Leipzig region. Those flights, which occurred in recent weeks, were detected near a Bundeswehr training ground where Ukrainian soldiers receive instruction. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the German envoy was handed a formal protest. Moscow rejected the accusations as “baseless” and warned that such claims could harm bilateral relations. The ministry added that it reserves the right to take further measures if Berlin continues its “confrontational line.” Germany has not yet issued a public response to the summons. The incident marks the latest strain in ties between Moscow and Berlin, which have deteriorated sharply since the start of the war in Ukraine.