Berlin is considering sharply expanding military and intelligence support for Ukraine following the drone incident near Leipzig/Halle airport, responsibility for which German authorities attribute to Russia. According to Der Spiegel, Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government intends to deepen cooperation between German and Ukrainian intelligence services, and is also studying the possibility of helping Kiev collect and refine coordinates of potential targets on Russian territory for future counterstrikes.
This would therefore involve not only new arms deliveries, but also a more sensitive format of intelligence cooperation. As Der Spiegel reports, citing government circles, the German authorities are discussing a “strengthening of intelligence cooperation” between Berlin and Kiev; the issue of transferring or assisting in obtaining targeting data is currently under consideration and has not yet been announced as a final decision.
Already in September, according to this information, Germany plans to send thousands of attack drones to Ukraine, as well as anti-aircraft missiles for IRIS-T air defense systems. The deliveries are intended to strengthen both the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ strike capabilities and the protection of Ukrainian cities, infrastructure, and military facilities from air attacks.
Der Spiegel also reports the transfer to Ukraine of Skyranger 35 anti-aircraft systems. These systems are designed to counter short-range aerial threats, including drones, and can be used in a layered air defense system alongside IRIS-T missile systems.
Publicly, Berlin does not call this package of measures a “revenge plan,” but media narratives describe the hardening of the German course after the Leipzig events in exactly these terms. The key political meaning of the proposed decisions is that Germany is ready to move from predominantly military-technical assistance to closer coordination with Ukraine in the field of intelligence, which could potentially become one of the most sensitive stages of German involvement in supporting Kiev.
