Russia Orders Closure of German Consulate and Goethe-Institut in St. Petersburg

Russia is revoking its consent for the operation of the German Consulate General in St. Petersburg and has ordered the facility to close by September 18, with all staff required to leave the country by that date, an independent Russian news outlet Meduza reported on September 7.

The diplomatic expulsion is framed as a retaliatory measure following Berlin’s announcement on September 1 that it was closing the Russian Consulate in Bonn and halting operations of the “Russian House” cultural center in the German capital.

Germany initiated those closures in response to a sabotage incident at Leipzig Airport, where explosive-laden drones attacked a Ukrainian transport aircraft—an attack German authorities have officially attributed to Russia.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also formalized the closure of Goethe-Institut branches across the country, a move previously signaled by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Meduza wrote.

Employees of the German cultural organization have been instructed to depart Russia by September 13.

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Germany Accuses Russia of Leipzig Airport Drone Sabotage Attempt. Here’s Everything We Know

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“The responsibility for the consequences of a new round of escalation in relations between the Russian Federation and the Federal Republic of Germany lies entirely with Berlin,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement regarding the closures.

The Leipzig airport sabotage that triggered the diplomatic row involved multiple explosive-laden drones and operatives connected to Russian intelligence. German authorities definitively attributed the failed August attack to Moscow after receiving critical tips from foreign intelligence services.

The German government is also responding to the plot by moving to expand the offensive cyber capabilities of its foreign intelligence service and preparing to deliver thousands of attack drones and air defense missiles to Ukraine.

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