Germany to Create Comprehensive Measures to Counter Russian Sabotage and Cyberattacks

Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Interior plans to establish a comprehensive set of measures to counter Russian sabotage, including cyberattacks.

Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told this to Bild.

The security plan calls for the rapid deployment of special units in strategically important cities across the country — Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Leipzig, Hanover and Cologne.

They are to provide comprehensive protection against drones in the airspace over critical infrastructure, airports, railway stations and the government district of the capital. In addition to interception, their duties will also include neutralizing explosive devices.

“Hybrid attacks involving drones carrying explosives targeting airports, agents in our cities, cyberattacks on our networks and sabotage of our infrastructure — this is our daily reality. These attacks will intensify, but we can defend ourselves,” the minister said.

Under the security plan, drone protection in the near future will be provided not only by the federal police but also by critical infrastructure operators, including energy companies and defense contractors. They will be given legal authority to actively repel drone attacks.

In addition, Germany also plans to create a national protective shield, known as the Cyberdome.

According to the minister, the network is to detect and block attempts by hackers to launch attacks at an early stage.

The security plan is being developed amid Russian hybrid threats. On August 5, a drone equipped with explosives was found near a Ukrainian An-124 Ruslan transport aircraft at Leipzig-Halle Airport during the night. Militarnyi reported on the incident.

On September 1, Germany officially accused Russia of the attack involving the Ukrainian An-124 in Leipzig.

On September 2, German law enforcement authorities confirmed that a Russian-born man with a Latvian passport and a Belarusian citizen who also holds a Russian passport were involved in the planned attack.

On September 3, amid Russia’s attempted sabotage in Leipzig, Germany strengthened cooperation with Ukraine and drafted a plan to expand its military contingent in Lithuania.