Sergey Lavrov announced on Thursday that all German cultural centres run by the Goethe-Institut will be closed in Moscow, St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg. The decision comes as relations between Moscow and Berlin deteriorate following a suspected drone incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport.
What triggered the closures?
German authorities blamed Russia for an attempted drone attack on Aug 4 at the Leipzig/Halle freight hub, a key route for military aid to Ukraine. An explosives-laden drone was found near a Ukrainian aircraft, later defused by police. The same day, incendiary devices were thrown at a construction site in Munich, near firms linked to the defence sector. Two Bulgarian nationals were detained, though their involvement remains unconfirmed.
Why the move matters
Closing the Goethe-Institut locations is a symbolic retaliation that underscores Moscow's willingness to use cultural diplomacy as a bargaining chip. Germany has already responded by shutting the Russian Consulate in Bonn and the Russian House cultural centre in Berlin, describing Russia as a "daily target" of a hybrid campaign.
"Any proof being offered has been planted," President Vladimir Putin said, accusing Berlin of fabricating evidence.
Lavrov warned that Germany's decision to close the Russian cultural hub in Berlin would "signify the end of their cultural presence in Russia" and suggested that any further retaliation would betray a lack of "self-respect" on Moscow's part.
"Germany could not have failed to understand that closing the centre in Berlin would signify the end of their cultural presence in Russia," Lavrov told an economic forum in Vladivostok.
Broader hybrid threat to Europe
Western officials have repeatedly accused Moscow of a sustained sabotage campaign aimed at undermining support for Ukraine and destabilising European societies. The European Union has imposed nearly two dozen sanction packages on Russia, targeting more than 3,000 individuals and entities, including banks, energy firms and drone manufacturers.
EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Bartjan Wegter said the failed Leipzig drone attack is "a very worrying development" and noted that existing anti-terrorism tools could be deployed against individuals suspected of such sabotage.
"They're actually deploying terrorist tactics that are meant to destabilise our society," Wegter told the Associated Press.
European response and next steps
Following Germany's accusations, Poland, Denmark, Finland, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic and Lithuania have summoned Russian diplomats. In Norway, a Russian vessel was seized in Svalbard at the request of Ukraine's state energy company Naftogaz, part of a $4.22 billion arbitration award related to the 2014 annexation of Crimea.
Russia's foreign ministry has summoned Norway's ambassador to protest the seizure, describing the vessel as belonging to a state weather and environmental monitoring agency and pledging to seek its release.
In Finland, more than 2,000 citizens participated in the largest civil-defence exercise in Europe since World War II, rehearsing responses to potential missile strikes from Russia.
While EU ministers discussed possible new measures, they have so far avoided direct military action, instead considering how to apply anti-terrorism and sanctions regimes more effectively.
What may happen next?
Analysts expect a further hardening of cultural and diplomatic ties as both sides test the limits of hybrid warfare. If Russia proceeds with additional closures or expulsions, European capitals may respond with reciprocal measures, potentially expanding the list of sanctioned individuals and entities. The ongoing civil-defence drills and heightened security alerts suggest that NATO members are preparing for a prolonged period of low-level confrontation rather than open conflict.
For now, the closure of German cultural centres marks another chapter in a widening rift that could reshape how Europe engages with Russia on cultural, economic and security fronts.