Russia Closes German Consulate and Cultural Centers in Retaliation

Russia announced the closure of the German consulate general in St. Petersburg, ordering all operations to cease no later than September 18. Employees of the diplomatic mission and cultural centers must leave the country within the designated deadlines.

German Goethe-Institut cultural centers are also shutting down across Russia, with staff instructed to depart by September 13. The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the German diplomatic mission head to deliver formal notes regarding the closures.

“It was the German authorities who once again provoked a new round of escalation in bilateral relations.”

The Russian government framed these measures as retaliation for Berlin's decision to close the Russian consulate in Bonn and the Russian House cultural center in Berlin. Berlin took those actions following an August 4 incident involving an explosives-laden drone at Leipzig/Halle Airport.

Germany blamed Russia for the attempted drone attack targeting a Ukrainian plane at the international freight hub. Moscow denied involvement, dismissing the event as a provocation and accusing German authorities of driving bilateral escalation.

Western officials have frequently accused Moscow of conducting sabotage and disruption campaigns across Europe to undermine support for Ukraine. Russia has consistently rejected these allegations.