Leaked Audio Reveals German Military Officers Discussing Provision of Missiles to Ukraine, Kremlin Alleges Western Involvement in Ukraine War
In a shocking revelation, a leaked audio recording has exposed high-ranking German military officers discussing the potential provision of long-range missiles to Ukraine. The Kremlin wasted no time in alleging the direct involvement of the collective West in the ongoing Ukraine war. The leaked recording, published by a Russian state broadcaster, has thrown Germany’s government into turmoil and has been labeled as a Russian “hybrid attack” aimed at destabilizing the European country.
The 38-minute recording captures a conversation between four German army officers discussing how Ukraine’s military could utilize Taurus cruise missiles if Germany were to provide them. Although no official approval for the shipment has been granted, the detailed discussions among German officials about potential targets, such as ammunition depots and strategic bridges, have raised concerns.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov misrepresents the discussion, claiming that the recording reveals substantive and concrete plans within the German military to launch strikes on Russian territory. Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned Germany’s ambassador in Moscow for a dressing down over the conversation, further escalating tensions between the two countries.
Another topic of discussion in the leaked audio was whether Ukrainian forces could operate the Taurus missiles without direct assistance from German personnel and how long it would take to train Ukrainian troops to handle them independently. Ukraine had requested the delivery of Taurus missiles in May 2023, citing the need for long-range weapons to target Russian supply lines in occupied territory. However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz decided against sending the weapons to Ukraine in October, fearing that it could lead to direct involvement in the war with Russia.
The intercepted conversation reveals that rapid deployment of the missile system would require the direct participation of German soldiers. While there is a possibility for Ukraine to eventually train its soldiers and deploy the missiles unilaterally, it would take additional time. Chancellor Scholz has emphasized that German soldiers must not be linked to the goals achieved by the Taurus missiles, as any public deployment could be seen as active participation in the war by Russia.
This leaked audio has intensified scrutiny on Chancellor Scholz, with questions arising about his repeated insistence that German soldiers would be necessary to operate the Taurus missiles in Ukraine. The officers involved in the conversation made it clear that this might not be the case. Some members of Scholz’s government, as well as opposition politicians, support the swift delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine, and the Chancellor was already facing criticism for his reluctance prior to the leak.
Germany’s Military Counter-Intelligence Service has launched an investigation into the audio leak, while Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has labeled it a “hybrid attack” by Russia. Pistorius condemned it as disinformation aimed at dividing and undermining Germany’s unity. It was revealed that the German Air Force officers conducting the conference call were relatively careless, as they did not use a secure line but instead relied on the WebEx platform, which is known to be susceptible to interception. Bundeswehr regulations require the use of an encrypted line for discussions involving confidential military matters.
The leaked audio recording has sent shockwaves through Germany’s government and has strained relations between Germany and Russia even further. As investigations into the leak continue, the implications of this revelation on the Ukraine war and Germany’s involvement remain uncertain.
