MOSCOW, Sept 7 (Reuters): Russia said on Monday it was closing down the German Consulate-General in St. Petersburg in retaliation for Berlin's decision to close the Russian consulate in Bonn and a Russian cultural centre in Berlin.

Germany took its own measures after ⁠accusing Moscow of an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport, an allegation Russia called an absurd fabrication.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the German consulate in St. Petersburg must cease operations no later than September 18.

It ⁠also confirmed that Germany's Goethe-Institut cultural centres in Russia must cease their activities, with staff ordered to leave the country by ⁠September 13 at the latest.

"It was the German authorities who, once again, provoked a ⁠new round of escalation in bilateral relations. The German government bears full ⁠and complete responsibility for the consequences," Russia's Foreign Ministry said.

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