---
title: "Berlin ramps up Ukraine air defense following Leipzig drone incident "
url: https://radiomoldova.md/p/84303/berlin-ramps-up-ukraine-air-defense-following-leipzig-drone-incident
published: 2026-09-03T03:16:38Z
language: en
author: "Ana Cebotari"
section: "International"
source: radiomoldova.md
---

# Berlin ramps up Ukraine air defense following Leipzig drone incident 

> Germany will supply Ukraine with additional IRIS-T surface-to-air missile systems and thousands of strike drones, with deliveries scheduled to begin this September, German broadcaster N-tv reported, citing senior government sources.

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/8b691bda-4c21-4588-bb02-6136d5360cc4.jpg)

Germany will supply Ukraine with additional IRIS-T surface-to-air missile systems and thousands of strike drones, with deliveries scheduled to begin this September, German broadcaster N-tv reported, citing senior government sources.

Berlin also plans to broaden its intelligence-sharing framework with Kyiv. The move comes in response to a suspected Russian sabotage plot uncovered at Germany's Leipzig/Halle Airport.

**European resolve strengthens**

Following the Leipzig incident, European officials pledged to reinforce military backing for Kyiv and tighten sanctions against Moscow, according to Bloomberg.

*“If the aim was to make us think twice about supporting Ukraine, it has only strengthened my resolve,”* said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. She added that Brussels is preparing additional measures to curb Russia's military revenues and close existing sanctions loopholes.

Concurrently, the European Union is reviewing a formal request from Kyiv to allocate part of the bloc’s €90 billion loan toward purchasing American-made Patriot interceptor missiles.

Such a step requires an exemption from standard EU procurement rules that prioritize European defense manufacturers. Member states are expected to vote on the waiver on Monday, September 7, The Moscow Times reported.

**Frozen assets and sabotage probe**

Several European governments have renewed calls to mobilize frozen Russian state assets to support Ukraine. The proposal previously stalled due to objections from Belgium, where the clearing house Euroclear holds the vast majority of the immobilised sovereign funds.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha noted that the moment has arrived for a *“serious discussion”* regarding the deployment of these frozen assets for Ukrainian defense and recovery.

The heightened security measures follow the August 4 discovery of an explosives-laden drone at Leipzig/Halle Airport, positioned near a Ukrainian military transport aircraft used for logistics shipments.

Investigators located a second drone near the facility shortly after, alongside roughly 50 grams of RDX military explosive (hexogen). German authorities formally attributed the coordinated operation to Russian intelligence assets. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated that Berlin will continue backing Kyiv while implementing stringent counter-measures to disrupt Russian covert operations across Europe.

Translation by **Iurie Tataru** 
***

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