German investigators have uncovered a third drone and a quantity of military-grade explosives that may have been intended for an attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport, deepening concerns over a possible state-backed operation targeting sensitive European infrastructure.
The discovery, reported on August 25 by German media, suggests that the August 4 incident involving a Ukrainian cargo aircraft may have been more extensive than initially believed.
The third drone was found on August 14 in a field near Kabelsketal, west of the airport, according to German broadcasters and the Süddeutsche Zeitung. Investigators also recovered what appeared to be about 50 grams of hexogen, a powerful military explosive.
The discovery has led investigators to consider whether the operation involved multiple drones rather than the single explosives-laden device initially found at the airport.
The circumstances surrounding the unexploded material remain unclear. Investigators have yet to establish why the explosives were not detonated or precisely what role the third drone was intended to play.
The revelations follow a chaotic night at Leipzig/Halle Airport earlier this month, when a modified drone was spotted close to a Ukrainian Antonov An-124 cargo aircraft operated by Antonov Airlines.
The aircraft was reportedly carrying ammunition and had apparently been targeted by a drone fitted with explosives.
Flights were suspended overnight on August 5 after the device was discovered near the Ukrainian aircraft. A second unidentified flying object subsequently collided with an incoming DHL cargo plane.
The incident has attracted particular scrutiny because of the aircraft’s Ukrainian connection and the airport’s importance as a major European freight hub.
US intelligence agencies believe the explosives-equipped drone found at the airport belonged to Moscow, according to the Wall Street Journal. German authorities have not publicly assigned responsibility.
Alexander Dobrindt, Germany’s interior minister, has described the incident as an apparent “hybrid attack scenario” orchestrated by a state actor, while stopping short of directly accusing Russia.
The latest discovery nevertheless adds to mounting concern across Europe over covert operations linked to Moscow.
European governments have increasingly warned of a campaign involving sabotage, arson, cyber attacks and unexplained drone activity around military and critical infrastructure sites.
For Germany, the Leipzig incident presents a particularly sensitive security challenge. The airport sits within a network of infrastructure increasingly important to European military logistics and Ukraine’s war effort.
The emergence of a third drone and military explosives suggests investigators may now be examining not simply an isolated security breach, but a potentially coordinated operation involving multiple devices.
The discovery also raises the stakes for European airports and logistics hubs, where relatively inexpensive drones can exploit vulnerabilities around high-value military and commercial targets.
German investigators have yet to establish who was behind the operation. But with US intelligence pointing towards Moscow and Berlin describing the incident as a potential state-backed hybrid attack, the case is likely to intensify scrutiny of Russia’s alleged covert campaign inside Europe.
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