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Oleg Levuškin suspected of organizing failed drone attack on Leipzig/Halle Airport
A joint investigation by The Telegraph and Die Welt has identified Russian national and motorcyclist Oleg Levuškin as the suspected organizer of a failed sabotage attempt at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany. The operation involved a drone carrying 1.8 kilograms of Semtex explosive, which struck the wing of a parked Ukrainian Antonov An-124 cargo plane. While the explosive failed to detonate, the aircraft was carrying approximately 25,000 liters of kerosene, posing a massive fire risk to the critical logistics hub used for aid to Ukraine.
Investigators believe Levuškin, who is allegedly linked to GRU officer Denis Smoljaninov, planned the attack but hired Belarusian national Andrei Karshakov to execute it. DNA evidence matching Karshakov was reportedly found near an antenna used to guide the drones. Levuškin is accused of traveling to Germany via Turkey and using a rental car to scout the airport and other locations where weapons were allegedly hidden.
The 1.8 kilograms of Semtex used in the attack was reportedly smuggled into Germany via trucks traveling through Bulgaria and Serbia. Despite being aware of Levuškin's ties to Russian military intelligence, German authorities did not place him under operational surveillance following his arrival in the country.
Entities
Andrei Karshakov · Andrej Karšakou · Denis Smoljaninov · GRU · Leipzig/Halle Airport · Oleg Levuškin
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 5 SOURCES] Levushkin is allegedly linked to GRU officer Denis Smoljaninov. a1on.mk · www.jutarnji.hr · www.rmf24.pl · www.index.hr · www.focus.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] German authorities were aware of Levuškin's GRU connections before his arrival. www.oslobodjenje.ba · www.rmf24.pl · www.focus.de
- [● 5 SOURCES] Levushkin entered Germany via Turkey. a1on.mk · www.jutarnji.hr · www.rmf24.pl · www.index.hr · www.focus.de
- [● 7 SOURCES] The target was an Antonov An-124 aircraft containing approximately 25,000 liters of kerosene. a1on.mk · www.jutarnji.hr · www.nedeljnik.rs · www.oslobodjenje.ba · www.rmf24.pl · +2 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] The drone carried 1.8 kilograms of Semtex explosive. a1on.mk · www.jutarnji.hr · www.nedeljnik.rs · www.oslobodjenje.ba · www.rmf24.pl · +1 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] Andrei Karshakov, a Belarusian national, is suspected of executing the attack. a1on.mk · www.jutarnji.hr · www.nedeljnik.rs · www.oslobodjenje.ba · www.index.hr · +1 more
- [● 7 SOURCES] Oleg Levuškin is suspected of organizing a drone attack on Leipzig/Halle Airport. a1on.mk · www.jutarnji.hr · www.nedeljnik.rs · www.oslobodjenje.ba · www.rmf24.pl · +2 more
- [● 4 SOURCES] The explosive was transported to Germany via trucks through Bulgaria and Serbia. a1on.mk · www.nedeljnik.rs · www.oslobodjenje.ba · www.rmf24.pl