Another Putin hybrid attack? Major power plant ‘is hit with home-made explosive rockets’ as Germany blames Russia for airport drone bombs
A power installation near the Janschwalde coal-fired power plant in Brandenburg, Germany, was reportedly targeted with homemade explosive rockets on Tuesday morning, with emergency services also discovering and defusing additional improvised devices. The incident coincided with Berlin formally set to blame Russia for a separate incident involving an explosive-laden drone found at Leipzig Airport last month, adding to a pattern of suspected Russian hybrid attacks against Germany that Moscow denies.
Police confirmed possible damage to a power line and said bomb disposal experts were at the scene, though there was no danger to the public and no resulting power outage; operator LEAG said unknown perpetrators had damaged several lines in the 50Hertz transmission network. Separately, Germany's foreign and interior ministers were due to address media on the Leipzig drone incident from 4 August, in which a device carrying explosives was found near a Ukrainian cargo plane at an airport used for Nato and Ukrainian military logistics; a second suspect drone was found weeks later. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned attackers would "pay" for such actions, with reported countermeasures under discussion including expelling Russian diplomats and closing Russia's Bonn consulate, alongside scrutiny of a Berlin-based Russian cultural centre suspected of espionage links.
- German power plant near Janschwalde hit by suspected rocket attack
- Berlin set to formally blame Russia for Leipzig Airport drone bombs
- Germany weighing diplomatic countermeasures amid rising hybrid attack fears
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Russia's Baltic and eastern European neighbours, including Germany, have reported a rising number of unexplained incidents in recent months, ranging from drone sightings near airports and military sites to damage at energy infrastructure. Western governments increasingly describe these as "hybrid attacks" – actions designed to cause disruption or gather intelligence while staying below the threshold that would trigger open conflict. Moscow has consistently denied any involvement.
Germany plays a significant role in supporting Ukraine and hosting Nato logistics, which officials say makes it a plausible target for such activity. Chancellor Friedrich Merz leads a government that has taken an increasingly firm stance towards Russia, and any formal accusation from Berlin carries diplomatic weight, potentially affecting relations, security arrangements and the presence of Russian officials and institutions in the country.
Incidents at power stations and airports matter because they touch on both public safety and critical national infrastructure – the systems that keep electricity flowing and transport running. When such sites are targeted, governments must weigh how to respond without escalating tensions further, all while reassuring the public that essential services remain protected.
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The case for
Those who back a robust German response argue that a pattern of sabotage against energy infrastructure and NATO-linked logistics sites cannot be dismissed as coincidence, and that a state facing deniable but escalating attacks has both the right and the duty to protect its critical infrastructure and citizens. On this view, expelling suspected intelligence operatives, closing facilities implicated in espionage, and publicly naming Russia are proportionate, deterrent measures that signal resolve without crossing into open conflict, and hesitating to act risks emboldening further attacks while Germany continues to support Ukraine.
The case against
Others counsel caution, arguing that attributing sabotage to a specific state actor before investigations are complete risks serious diplomatic and security consequences based on incomplete evidence, particularly when incidents like homemade rockets or stray drones could stem from a range of actors, including domestic extremists or criminal groups. From this perspective, measures such as expelling diplomats or shutting cultural institutions should follow rigorous, verified findings rather than political pressure or media narratives, since premature blame can inflame tensions, undermine diplomatic channels, and damage Germany's credibility if the attribution later proves mistaken.