Moscow's retaliatory measures
On Monday, the Russian Foreign Ministry declared that it no longer permits Germany's consulate general to operate in St. Petersburg. The consulate is required to shut down by September 18, and its personnel must depart the country no later than that date, as per the ministry's announcement.[S1][S2]
In addition, the ministry formally declared the closure of all Goethe-Institut branches in Russia, a move that Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had already announced several days earlier. Goethe-Institut staff are required to leave Russia by September 13. The Goethe-Institut is a German cultural organization that promotes German language and culture, largely financed by the German government.[S1][S2]
Escalation over Leipzig drone attack
This move comes as a direct retaliation for Germany's decision to shut down Russia's consulate in Bonn and the 'Russian House' cultural center in Berlin. Germany revealed these steps on September 1, following an incident at Leipzig Airport where explosive-laden drones targeted a Ukrainian transport plane. German officials directly accused Russia of orchestrating the attack, and the EU characterized the event as showing all indications of 'state-sponsored terrorism.'[S1][S2]
The Russian Foreign Ministry asserted that Berlin bears full responsibility for the consequences of this latest escalation. Lavrov dismissed Germany's accusations, labeling them 'the beginning of a real war.' Leipzig Airport serves as a major international cargo hub and is also utilized for supporting Ukraine.[S1][S2]
