Germany investigates a purported recording leaked by Russia of officers discussing aid to Ukraine
The Hindu
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz investigates leaked audio discussing German military support for Ukraine, including Taurus missiles.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday that authorities were investigating a purported recording published by Russian state media in which German military officers discussed the country's support for Ukraine, including the potential use of Taurus missiles.
Mr. Scholz called it a “very serious matter” in comments to reporters on the sidelines of a visit to the Vatican on Saturday, the German news agency dpa reported.
Mr. Scholz earlier this week said he remains reluctant to send Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, pointing to a risk of Germany becoming directly involved in the war.
But in the purported audio recording, German officers discuss the possibility of the missiles being used in Ukraine.
Margarita Simonyan, chief editor of Russian state-funded TV channel RT, said the audio revealed German officers discussing strikes on the Crimean Bridge.
“In this (...) recording, high-ranking Bundeswehr officers discuss how they will bomb (attention!) the Crimean bridge,” she wrote on the Telegram messaging app, adding that the conversation took place on February 19. Within the conversation, she said, one of the officers mentioned a planned trip to Ukraine on February 21 to coordinate strikes on Russian targets.
Mr. Scholz said German authorities were working to clarify the matter “very carefully, very intensively and very quickly.” Germany's Ministry of Defense also said it was investigating whether communications within the air force were intercepted by Russia, dpa reported.
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