Unidentified drones were spotted flying over a German military site in Mechernich that hosts a major underground depot, a spokesperson for the Bundeswehr operational command told AFP on Saturday, August 8.
The site security center spotted two drones on Thursday evening and notified the police, who responded to the location and opened an investigation. Operational command declined to provide additional details.
German media outlets Süddeutsche Zeitung, WDR, and NDR reported that employees of a private security company observed six overflights between Thursday evening and Friday morning. The Bundeswehr stores equipment and spare parts at the site in an underground depot 130 meters deep, covering approximately 30,000-square-meter, or four football fields.
Patriot Missile Defense Components
The Mechernich site also houses components of the American Patriot air defense system. The system is designed to intercept cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and aircraft.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to Washington last week to meet Donald Trump to request Patriot missiles. The systems are the only weapons capable of intercepting Russia's most advanced missiles.
Leipzig Airport Explosive Incident
The sightings occurred two days after a drone carrying an explosive device was discovered at Leipzig airport in eastern Germany. The airport serves as a strategic hub for transporting military goods.
According to the daily newspaper Bild, a driver working at the airport saw the drone hovering low near Ukrainian cargo planes. He grabbed the device and held it to the ground until police bomb disposal experts arrived.
Shortly after the incident, a second unidentified flying object reportedly struck an aircraft belonging to German logistics company DHL while it was maneuvering around the airport near closing time.
Hybrid Warfare Threat Warnings
On Wednesday, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt warned of a new dimension of threat involving a potential hybrid attack scenario, without naming suspects. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz convened a national security council meeting on Friday.
European countries, led by Germany, use the term hybrid warfare to describe Russia's hostile actions. The concept includes sabotage, espionage, disinformation, and cyberattacks.
