Russia has closed the German Consulate General in St. Petersburg.

Russia has ordered the closure of the German Consulate General in St. Petersburg. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the consulate must cease all activities by September 18, 2026, and its staff will leave Russia.  The move was taken in retaliation after Germany recently decided to close the Russian Consulate General in Bonn and the Russian Cultural Center in Berlin.  Berlin made the decision following allegations of a Russian drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport, a claim that Russia has denied.  In response, Moscow has ordered the closure of the German Consulate General in St. Petersburg, as well as Goethe-Institut centers across Russia. The move is seen as another major escalation in the already highly strained diplomatic relations between Russia and Germany.