Russia shuts Goethe-Institut branches in tit-for-tat with Germany over Russian House closure

Russia announced it will close branches of Germany's Goethe-Institut, citing Germany's closure of the Russian House in Berlin, which followed German accusations of a Russian-linked drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport. This escalates cultural-diplomatic retaliation between the two states, signaling continued deterioration in bilateral relations beyond military and energy spheres. The move is symbolic but reinforces the broader pattern of reciprocal expulsions and institutional closures since 2022.