Germany to probe leaked recording of secret military discussions on Ukraine
Germany announces investigation following the leak of a recording depicting high-level German officers discussing the nation's strategy in the Ukraine conflict.
Germany has announced that it will look into a leaked recording of a discussion among high-ranking German officers about the country's strategy in the Ukraine war. The conversation, shared online by Margarita Simonyan, the head of Russia's state-backed RT channel, involves air force officers talking about the potential delivery of Taurus weapon systems to Ukraine and the potential targeting of the Kerch Bridge, which links Crimea to mainland Russia.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the leak as a "very serious matter." He assured during a visit to Rome on Saturday that it will be thoroughly, intensively, and quickly investigated.
A spokesperson from the German Defense Ministry told CNN that the recording is indeed real. They mentioned that a conversation within the air force sector was captured. However, they are unsure if any alterations were made to the version being shared on social media.
The discussion in the audio focuses on how the air force can assist in delivering long-range Taurus missiles. One officer also mentions the possible ways these systems could be utilized by Ukraine, referring to a "long" and "short" path to implementation.
The Kerch bridge has been a targeted for Ukraine throughout the conflict.
The Kerch bridge has been a targeted for Ukraine throughout the conflict.
Alexey Pavlishak/Reuters
Germany has hesitated to send weapons to Kyiv because they are worried they might be used to attack Russia.
Officers were caught on tape talking about using Taurus missiles to target the Kerch bridge. They believe the Taurus missile could hit the bridge and ammunition depots, even though it is a challenging task.
Moscow is looking for answers regarding the recording. The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated on her Telegram channel Friday that they are demanding explanations from Germany. She emphasized that official Berlin must respond promptly. Any avoidance in answering questions will be seen as an admission of guilt.
German politicians are concerned about the audio that has been leaked. Roberich Kiesewetter from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) mentioned on public broadcaster ZDF that more conversations could have been intercepted and might be released in the future, according to Deutsche Welle.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
