Wall Street Journal Says Putin Ordered Wave of Attacks Against NATO; Moscow Denies Involvement
Key Facts
The Wall Street Journal said Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a new wave of attacks against NATO countries, in a report examining an attempted strike on a cargo aircraft at Germany's Leipzig airport. The newspaper said a drone struck an Antonov cargo aircraft but did not explode. The cargo aircraft was parked at the airport and is used to transport military aid to Ukraine, according to the report's introduction. Moscow denied involvement in the attempted drone attack and described the incident as a "provocation," according to the Associated Press. Germany and Russia exchanged diplomatic measures following the incident, while European Union foreign ministers considered response options including sanctions and visa restrictions.
At the European level, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the attempted attack as bearing the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism, according to the Associated Press. Kallas said: "It clearly bears all the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism." The options discussed by EU foreign ministers included sanctions, as part of their deliberations on responding to the attempted attack. Ministers also considered visa restrictions, according to the agency, alongside the punitive measures under discussion. Closing Russian consulates was another option before ministers, extending the European debate to diplomatic tools as well as sanctions and entry restrictions.
On Germany's measures, the foreign minister said the Russian consulate in Bonn would close effective September 18, according to the Associated Press. Russia's Foreign Ministry, for its part, announced the closure of the German consulate in St. Petersburg as part of the exchange of diplomatic measures following the Leipzig incident. Germany's position also included the foreign minister's announcement of increased "pressure on the shadow fleet," according to the agency. The term refers to tankers suspected of being used to transport Russian oil in violation of sanctions imposed on it. The measures and plans announced by the German minister thus included closing a Russian consular mission, alongside stepping up pressure on oil tanker activity linked to sanctions enforcement.
The Leipzig incident comes amid an increase in incidents tracked by the Associated Press on its map of hybrid attacks, according to a report published by the agency in September. In March 2025, the map was tracking 59 incidents. By the time the September report was published, the number had exceeded 200, according to the agency, which described the comparison as showing an escalation. In an assessment of Russian activity cited by the agency, the Danish Defence Intelligence Service warned of an escalation in Russia's hybrid campaign. The service said "Russia has become more willing to take risks," in an assessment examining Moscow's behaviour and its willingness to bear the risks associated with the campaign.
As background to the debate over a response, NATO explains that hybrid attacks may fall within the scope of an armed attack. The cases cited by the alliance include significant cyberattacks, alongside other hybrid attacks. NATO says such attacks "could amount to an armed attack," according to its explanation of collective defence rules. As for the assistance allies commit to providing when collective defence is invoked, the alliance explains that it may include the use of armed force. Assistance may also take other forms, with NATO's explanation stating that it "may or may not involve the use of armed force," as part of allies' commitment to provide assistance.
On the alliance's next steps, Secretary General Mark Rutte affirmed NATO's full solidarity with Germany following the hybrid attack in Leipzig, according to an alliance statement. He said "the alliance's response will be more support for Ukraine in its defence against Russian aggression." Supreme Allied Commander Alexus Grynkewich urged NATO members to coordinate a "coherent" response to Russian activity to make red lines clear to Moscow, according to the Associated Press. Grynkewich said he did not believe conflict was "imminent or inevitable," speaking about the confrontation with Russia. He stressed the need to be prepared while maintaining communication channels to resolve misunderstandings, alongside his call for a coordinated allied response.