Russia shuts German consulate and cultural centers amid drone attack dispute

Russia ordered Germany’s consulate in St. Petersburg to close by Sept. 18 and required its staff to leave, while Germany’s Goethe-Institut cultural centers in Russia were ordered to cease operations and foreign staff were told to depart by Sept. 13. Moscow said the measures retaliated against Germany’s closure of Russia’s consulate in Bonn and the Russia House cultural center in Berlin. Germany took those actions after accusing Russia of involvement in an attempted explosives-laden drone attack near a Ukrainian aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport on Aug. 4. Russia denied the allegation, calling it fabricated; President Vladimir Putin said evidence may have been planted, while Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned the accusations could mark the start of a real war. The reciprocal closures further deteriorated relations amid Germany’s support for Ukraine and accusations that Russia is conducting broader hybrid operations against Western countries.