Germany accidentally leaked British military secrets to Russia using a standard videophone technology. The text of the calls of the commander of the German air force was published by the director of the Russian state television. The leak of this high-ranking German military officer’s conversations, discussing the potential deployment of these missiles to Ukraine, has caused embarrassment for the German Ministry of Defence and raised concerns about communication security.
Germany’s military secrets leak has exacerbated internal conflicts within the German military and sparked a public debate on the country’s defence and security vulnerabilities. Despite pressure from Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has opposed sending the Taurus missiles, citing the risk of direct involvement in the war, a stance that has polarised German political circles. The Kremlin said that the presence of NATO troops in Ukraine is a severe provocation.
Kiev’s request to increase military aid
As Ukraine’s war enters its third year, Kyiv has stepped up its calls for more military support from allies. The number of Ukrainian soldiers on the front line has decreased, and the lack of weapons and ammunition is felt. Kyiv has been asking Germany to provide it with Taurus missiles for a long time. The range of this missile reaches 500 km.
Exposing the audio file of high-ranking officers of the German army
On the day that the funeral of Alexei Navalny, one of the Russian opposition leaders, was held in Moscow, the Kremlin-affiliated state media released an audio file. In Germany’s military secrets leak, high-ranking army officers were discussing the supposed use of long-range “Taurus” missiles in Ukraine. The conversation about this sensitive issue was meant to be private. This revelation embarrassed the German Ministry of Defense and raised concerns about the security of communications in this country.
The words of the German military official about the war in Ukraine
The commander of the German Air Force, in a call with the officers and one of the generals, talked about how French and British officials sent “Storm” missiles to the Ukrainian soldiers. These military secrets have been leaked to the Russians. According to the Telegraph, the commander of the German Air Force also said that British soldiers were in Ukraine. This compassionate detail has caused disagreements and conflicts among NATO allies. In Germany’s military secrets leak, German officers discussed sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine only theoretically. Despite months of pressure from Ukraine, Germany has not approved the shipment of these weapons.
Details of the leaked audio file from the German authorities
Germany’s military secrets leak showed new dimensions of Russia’s information war against the West with the issue of the Ukraine war. In this 38-minute audio file, German Air Force Commander Ingo Gerhartz can be heard talking to three colleagues about the scenarios of deploying Taurus missiles in Ukraine before meeting with Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. According to the source of the release of this file, the conversation took place on February 19, in which the four military officers sought to coordinate their points of view and agreed to prepare slides to visualize the situation better.
Features of Taurus missiles
Taurus missiles equipped with anti-radar technology range up to 500 km. They help Ukraine pressure Russia in the Black Sea and other areas. Germany and Sweden made these missiles, which can reach targets deep in Russia from Ukraine. Ukraine has long asked Germany to take a step similar to Britain and France in sending cruise missiles by sending these missiles.
The Kremlin’s response to the disclosure of military information
In the call of Ingo Gerhartz, the commander of the German Air Force, also discusses the possibility of delivering Taurus missiles to Ukraine. In part of this conversation, he says: “If we’re asked about delivery methods. I know how the British do this. They always transport them in Ridgeback armoured vehicles. They have several people on the ground.”
Disclosure of the training of Ukrainian soldiers in Germany
Ingo Gerhartz also revealed that France will deliver another version of these missiles to Ukraine using Audi Q7s. General Frank Graefe also participated in the conversation, talking about training Ukrainian soldiers in Germany. In Germany’s military secrets leak, officers also discussed whether Taurus cruise missiles could attack the Kerch bridge between mainland Russia and the Crimean Peninsula.
Russian intelligence war against Germany
In his first statement after the release of an audio file from a meeting of senior German military officials, the German Defense Minister accused Russia of conducting an “information war” to create division in his country. Germany called releasing this file in Russia a clear act of eavesdropping and said it is investigating the issue. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said: “The incident is much more than just the interception and publication of a conversation … It is part of an information war that Putin is waging.”
Russia’s reaction to the disclosure of the audio file of German military officials
Russia has considered this disclosed conversation as a sign of the direct involvement of the West in the war in Ukraine. In response to the German military secrets leak, Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Minister, said: “If nothing is done, and the German people do not stop this, then there will be dire consequences first and foremost for Germany itself.” ” In response, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said: “If Russia had not brutally attacked this country, Ukraine would not have to defend itself.”
British and French military aid to Ukraine
Britain announced last spring that it was fielding “Storm Shadow” missiles with a range of 250 kilometres. These missiles give Ukraine the ability to attack behind the front lines, including in Crimea. Ukraine has pledged not to use these missiles to attack Russia. France followed Britain by sending its SCALP missiles. Of course, France assured that it would not use these missiles to attack the depth of Russian soil. Paris recently announced the delivery of 40 additional Scallop missiles to Ukraine.
German opposition to expanding the scope of the war in Ukraine
Germany has been Ukraine’s second largest supplier of military aid after the United States. Germany has also increased its support in the new year. However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has refused to send Taurus missiles. He said that sending these missiles would bring the risk of direct involvement of his country in the war. However, some politicians against him want to send missiles to Ukraine. Meanwhile, according to polls, a significant part of German people do not agree with this idea.
Conflicts between German military officials increased after leaking the audio file.Â
Although Germany’s military counterintelligence service is investigating the security breach, it is unclear whether the investigation results will be made public. Experts argued that the call was part of a sweeping Russian spying operation. Germany’s military secrets leak made internal disputes about sending the Taurus system more public. It also fuels the debate on this country’s defence and security weaknesses. In the phone call, the interlocutors discussed the possible delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Kyiv, an issue that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has previously publicly denied, fueling a rift in German political circles.
