Russia orders German consulate in Saint Petersburg shut

Russia ordered Germany's consulate in Saint Petersburg to close by September 18, 2026, deepening a diplomatic dispute after Germany shut Russia's consulate in Bonn.

Russia's foreign ministry said Monday it was revoking consent for the German consulate general to operate in Saint Petersburg. It said the consulate must stop work by September 18 and that all its staff must leave Russia by that date.

Moscow also demanded that employees of Germany's Goethe Institute, which Russia closed last week, leave by September 13.

Germany last week shut Russia's consulate in Bonn and Moscow's cultural centre in Berlin. The moves followed Germany's accusation that Russia orchestrated a drone attack on Leipzig airport, an allegation Moscow denies.

The European Union said the Leipzig incident, which involved an explosive-laden drone, bore signs of “state sponsored terrorism”. Russia has dismissed the allegations.

Germany is one of Ukraine's main allies, and European countries have warned about what they describe as hybrid attacks on their soil. Over the weekend, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Berlin of “wanting war again”.