Berlin weighs closing Russian House after Leipzig drone incident

Germany’s governing coalition is discussing possible measures against Russia following a drone incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport, including the potential closure of the Russian House cultural centre in Berlin.

Although German authorities have not officially accused Moscow of involvement in the incident, evidence pointing to Russian involvement is growing, prompting the government to consider possible responses, Der Spiegel reports.

Among the measures under discussion is, for the first time, action against the Russian House, which operates on Berlin’s Friedrichstrasse. German security officials reportedly suspect that the institution could be linked to espionage activities despite its stated cultural mission. Calls for action against the centre have also been made previously.

Those supporting measures against the Russian House include Roderich Kiesewetter, a foreign policy expert from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU); Steffen Krach of the Social Democratic Party (SPD); and Konstantin von Notz, the Greens’ domestic affairs expert.

The Russian House operates under two German-Russian agreements. One, signed in May 2013, grants Russia a 99-year lease on the property. A separate intergovernmental agreement, signed in February 2011, allows the arrangement to be reviewed and terminated every five years. The next review date is June 7, 2027.

The same agreement also covers the activities of the Goethe-Institut in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Berlin therefore expects that German cultural institutions in Russia could face retaliatory measures if the agreement is terminated.

The German Foreign Ministry confirmed that the issue is being reviewed.

"In light of Russia's actions against German cultural institutions and organisations and against the backdrop of Russia's growing hybrid activities, the federal government is comprehensively and continuously reviewing the international legal framework governing the activities of the Russian House. This also applies to the agreement mentioned in the question," the ministry said.

A preliminary political decision could be reached before the end of August, with federal ministers due to hold a retreat at Neuhardenberg Castle next week.

The issue follows a similar move by Moldova, which closed the Russian House in Chisinau after issuing a warning to the organization in December 2025.

The decision came after another incident involving Russian UAVs that crashed on Moldovan territory after reportedly being used in attacks on Ukrainian ports in Odesa Oblast.

By Vafa Guliyeva