Germany identifies two suspects in attempted attack on Ukrainian aircraft

German investigators have identified two men suspected of involvement in an attempted drone attack with explosives on a Ukrainian transport aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport. Both have ties to Russia, and one of them is linked by the investigation to Russian intelligence services.

This was reported by Süddeutsche Zeitung, NDR and WDR, citing the results of the investigation by the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA). The Federal Prosecutor's Office is investigating the case against two accused, but no arrests have been reported.

The first suspect is a Russian-born man with a Latvian passport. According to journalists, investigators consider him the logistician and trainer for the operation, and suspect he has links to Russian intelligence.

The man arrived in Germany at the end of July, flying into Berlin-Brandenburg Airport, after which he rented a car and headed towards Leipzig. Two days before the failed attack, he left Germany, flying out again via Berlin.

Second suspect identified through DNA traces

The second suspect is a man from Belarus, who according to media reports also holds a Russian passport. He has previously come to the attention of law enforcement authorities in other European countries.

Investigators found his alleged DNA traces on one of the discovered drone systems, on the inside of a container of explosives, and on an antenna mounted on a tree near the airport. The antenna is presumed to have been used to boost the drone control signal via mobile communication.

A DNA check against European databases yielded matches in Lithuania and Finland. Investigators were also able to reconstruct the suspect's movements.

According to Süddeutsche Zeitung, NDR and WDR, the man entered the Schengen area on an Italian tourist visa, issued in late April by an Italian diplomatic mission in Minsk.

Drone was equipped with professional explosives

The attempted attack occurred in early August at Leipzig/Halle Airport, where Ukrainian transport aircraft are based. A drone carrying professional explosives and a detonator was found on airport premises.

German investigators now believe that more drones may have been involved in the operation than previously thought. To date, three devices have been found in whole or in part, but technical traces point to the possible use of additional drones.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt previously stated that the attack was professionally prepared, required significant technical expertise and serious organizational work.

According to the German government's assessment, the collected data points to the involvement of so-called low-level agents acting on behalf of Russian state structures. Berlin has officially placed responsibility for the attempted attack on Russia, describing the incident as part of known Russian hybrid operations in Europe.

Russian authorities deny any involvement in the incident. The Russian Embassy in Berlin called Germany's accusations a provocation.

Meanwhile, investigators are not yet confident that they will be able to arrest the suspects. German services fear that the suspects may never again appear in countries where they could be taken into custody.

Source materials: Süddeutsche Zeitung, Tagesschau