U.S. intelligence believes Moscow behind explosive drone found near Ukrainian plane in Germany — report

The source said the drone’s design and the explosive it carried were “typical” of devices used by the GRU. The United States reached that conclusion jointly with German intelligence agencies, the source said.

The drone did not explode because its triggering mechanism had been disconnected, the source said.

Germany’s Federal Police told ABC News that it had no further comment because the investigation was ongoing.

Investigators believe the drone was intended to disable aircraft at the airport, delay shipments to Ukraine, and deter Germany from further support for Ukraine.

Leipzig Airport is a major cargo hub used by the U.S. military and NATO allies to transport weapons to Ukraine.

An explosive-laden drone equipped with a detonator was discovered on the runway at Leipzig/Halle Airport overnight on Aug. 5, close to a Ukrainian Antonov An-124 cargo aircraft.

The airport has served as a base for Ukrainian Antonov aircraft since 2022. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said on Aug. 6 that the incident did not appear to be the work of amateurs and that the involvement of a foreign state could not be ruled out.