Leipzig Drone Incident: False Flag Allegations Against Russia

Andrew Korybko, a Moscow-based American political analyst, argues in an article published on Naked Capitalism that the September 2026 Leipzig drone incident bears all the hallmarks of a false flag operation orchestrated by Germany to justify its military buildup and escalation against Russia. The incident involved three drones found near Ukrainian cargo planes at Leipzig airport, with Germany attributing them to Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed these claims, suggesting they were fabricated to distract from domestic issues and legitimize future aggression. Korybko points to several factors supporting the false flag theory: the implausible incompetence of Russian drone operators, a similar incident in Scandinavia in fall 2025 where unknown drones grounded flights and Ukraine blamed Russia without evidence, and Germany's economic and military motivations. Germany, now Ukraine's second-largest military patron, has been rapidly remilitarizing and developing deep-strike capabilities with Ukraine, aiming to command Europe's largest army by 2030. This military expansion is unpopular with voters, prompting the government to seek justification through the Leipzig incident. Korybko warns that escalation could lead to a resumption of drone campaigns against Russia, risking nuclear confrontation. He concludes by urging Germany to avoid escalation, as the Scandinavian states did.