German authorities are investigating the leak of an audio recording in which German military officers purportedly discussed support for Ukraine, including the potential use of Taurus missiles.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz called it a “very serious matter” after the audio was published in Russia, adding that the German government was working to clarify the incident “very carefully, very intensively and very quickly,” Germany’s DPA news agency reported.
In the 38-minute recording published by Russian state-controlled media Russia Today, military officers discuss the question of how the Taurus long-range cruise missiles could be used by Ukraine, the Associated Press reported. Berlin has been reluctant to supply Kyiv with the powerful missiles, an issue that is splintering the country's government coalition.
The debate over Ukraine aid has been heating up in Berlin as Ukraine has faced setbacks on the battlefield and the latest package of U.S. military aid to Ukraine has been mired in political debate in Congress.
In the controversial audio recording, released by Russia Today editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan, officials from Germany’s armed forces, the Bundeswehr, discuss how the air force could provide technical support for the delivery of Taurus missiles following a hypothetical political decision by Chancellor Scholz. POLITICO couldn't independently verify the content or authenticity of the recording.
During the recorded conversation, the military officials also reportedly discussed possible targets including the Kerch Bridge linking Russia and occupied Crimea.
Germany's Military Counterintelligence Service has started an investigation to find out “whether internal communications within the air force” could have been intercepted, the German defense ministry said on Saturday.