2024-03-06 17:10:39
2024-03-07 01:10 Compiled by Gao Yuxuan/Comprehensive Report from United Daily News German Defense Minister Pestorius said that the wiretapping case was being investigated and accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of trying to create division. (beautiful…
An audio recording of a confidential meeting of the German Air Force was disclosed by Russian media on the same day. The content discussed the possibility of Germany delivering the “Taurus” long-range cruise missile to Ukraine, and triggered Russian criticism of Western countries’ involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. German Defense Minister Pestorius responded on the 5th that the incident was caused by “individual” operational errors and that the German military communication system was not hacked, and criticized Russia for trying to create divisions.
The secret meeting of the German army was eavesdropped by Russia / Liang Caifen
The Wall Street Journal and Agence France-Presse reported that German Air Force Director General Gerharz convened a meeting with his senior officials through the business conference platform WebEx in February. During the meeting, his staff were asked to prepare a briefing on how Germany might provide Ukrainian Taurus missiles to destroy the Russian-occupied Kerry. Targets such as the Kechi Bridge and the arsenal in Mia and Russia. The leaked recording lasted for 38 minutes, and the German government confirmed the authenticity of the content.
Ukraine has been urging Germany to provide Taurus missiles with a range of 500 kilometers, but German Chancellor Scholtz declined, fearing that Germany would be involved in the war. The Ukrainian army already has similar weapons such as the British “Storm Shadow” and the French version of SCALP missiles. However, when the Ukrainian army previously used these missiles to attack the Kechi Bridge, they failed to cause sustained damage. Experts believe that the Taurus missile, which has greater power and range, is expected to destroy the bridge.
German officers participating in the meeting stated in the recording that they had analyzed in detail how to attack the bridge, and that ten to twenty Taurus missiles would be needed to circumvent Russian air defenses and destroy the bridge. Gerharz mentioned that whether the action can be taken depends on the “political red line”, and Germany can provide Kiev with 100 missiles. He also said that Britain and France are pressuring Germany to aid Ukraine in patrol missiles because their own stocks have been exhausted. The German military inventory is believed to contain approximately 500 Taurus missiles.
German officials also claimed at the meeting that the United States, Britain and France have military personnel in Ukraine to help operate sophisticated Western armaments. All three countries have denied this. The Kremlin said on the 4th that the contents of the recording proved that Western countries were involved in the Ukrainian conflict. The Wall Street Journal believes that this leak is a propaganda victory for the Kremlin.
Officials familiar with the “recording scandal” investigation said that WebEx was widely used by sensitive government departments such as the German army and that the incident should serve as a warning. Pestorius said that the German army’s use of the platform was legal and that additional security measures were in place. The meeting was intercepted because a participant attending an air show in Singapore entered the meeting through an “unauthorized line”, so it was ” Individual user errors”.
Pestorius said that the Singapore Airshow attracted high-level military officers from various countries, and the Russian intelligence service sent agents to the hotels where attendees stayed to conduct extensive wiretapping, so the interception of the conference was “an unforeseen incident.”
Pestorius downplayed the importance of the meeting, saying it was a “hypothetical” discussion between military personnel and did not involve decision-making or specific plans. He also said that he had spoken to many allies and that their trust in Germany has not been damaged. He also accused the Kremlin of trying to create divisions in Germany and drive a wedge between political parties in the country that have different views on aid to Ukraine.
However, Marina., a war studies expert at King’s College London. Milon said that following this incident, “I do not think that German Chancellor Scholtz will approve Taurus missile aid to Ukraine.”
This time the “recording scandal” has once once more highlighted Germany’s vulnerability in the face of Russian intelligence. Previously, a senior official of the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND) was arrested on suspicion of conducting intelligence research for Russia.
Ukraine Russia Russia-Ukraine War
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