Drone at Leipzig Airport raises fears of Russian election interference

Germany's Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said an explosive-laden drone found at Leipzig Airport could be the work of "foreign powers." The airport serves as a key hub for Ukrainian and NATO aircraft and a major DHL logistics center.

The discovery has raised concerns ahead of regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) could gain power. Experts say Russia is trying to influence the outcome to weaken Chancellor Friedrich Merz and boost the AfD and the far-left Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW).

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Martin Giese said Russia attempts every day to undermine trust in Germany's democracy through hybrid means. Stefan Meister of the German Council on Foreign Relations described the situation as a broad hybrid campaign aimed at bringing pro-Russian forces to power.

Polls suggest the AfD could win an outright majority in Saxony-Anhalt on Sept. 6 and become the largest party in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Elections in Berlin are set for Sept. 20, where the party is also expected to perform well.

Leipzig-Halle airport has been a target before. In July 2024, an incendiary parcel caught fire at a DHL facility, and investigators later identified 22 suspects linked to Russian military intelligence. The airport is also home to NATO's SALIS airlift program, giving nine countries access to Ukrainian aircraft for oversized military cargo.

The Interior Ministry said it is monitoring a campaign called "Matryoshka," which has involved fabricated videos accusing candidates of crimes. Deutsche Welle counted more than 180 fake posts tied to the campaign, mostly attacking centrist candidates while sparing the AfD and BSW.