Could an explosive drone at a German airport signal a growing Russian threat to NATO?

As German authorities investigate a drone laden with explosives and a detonator found at Leipzig airport, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has signalled Moscow's intent to step up retaliation against countries helping Ukraine.

"We will adopt much harsher methods to destroy everything that enables the West to fuel Kyiv's war machine," Lavrov said in an interview with VGTRK, Russia's state media. "We are already doing this."

German investigators said an airport employee found a drone carrying an unknown explosive device in the security area of the cargo operations zone near the south runway of Leipzig airport, a facility classified as "critical infrastructure."

Leipzig is a strategic NATO airport used to deliver armaments, ammunition, weapons and other military equipment to Ukraine on flights operated by Ukrainian cargo companies.

The discovery of the drone, which was spotted beside one of those Ukrainian cargo planes, marks "a new level of danger" for Germany, according to Germany's interior minister.

Alexander Dobrindt said the incident did not appear to be the work of amateurs and that investigators were treating it as part of a "professional hybrid threat scenario."

German authorities are investigating the incident and have not said where they believe the drone came from. Late last week, U.S. intelligence officials told the Wall Street Journal that intelligence reports indicated the drone likely belonged to the Russian government.

Berlin is responding cautiously, strengthening anti-drone capabilities while avoiding premature attribution.

"We are right in the middle of establishing the facts," Dobrindt said. "We are at the investigation stage and it would not be appropriate for a federal minister to prematurely comment on this."

But officials warn that Russia is already using drones, espionage, sabotage and influence operations across Europe — including ahead of upcoming regional elections in Germany.

"We are facing new threats," Dobrindt said in the days following the drone incident. "We are facing a serious threat situation we are confronted with every day."

Dobrindt says Germany is the "daily target" of hybrid warfare, including "espionage, sabotage, cyber attacks and covert actions by foreign powers aimed at destabilizing Germany, causing harm to our country and bringing about political and social change as well."

In 2024, U.S. and western intelligence uncovered a Russian plot to assassinate Armin Papperger, CEO of German defence contractor Rheinmetall. The company is responsible for heavy military production and is a major supplier of armaments to Ukraine.

In March, German federal prosecutors arrested a man suspected of spying for Russia and scouting sabotage targets. The intelligence he gathered reportedly included details about Berlin's military support for Ukraine and information about the country's defence industry, particularly companies developing drones and robotics.