War in Ukraine: espionage, delivery of missiles… a leaked audio recording, a “very serious matter” according to Olaf Schloz

Olaf Scholz à Rome le 1er mars 2024. ANSA – FABIO FRUSTACI

Berlin is investigating an audio recording published by Russian media of a conference call by senior German military officials discussing weapons destined for Ukraine, which sparked fears of espionage in Germany and requests for clarification from Moscow.

A spokesman for the German Defense Ministry said on Saturday that it was unable to confirm the authenticity of the recording, but that the ;Federal Office of Military Counterespionage was investigating the matter and that all necessary measures would be taken.

A leaked conversation

Margarita Simonyan, a Russian public television journalist and director of Russia Today, was the first to post the recording on Friday, which was also broadcast on the group's Telegram channel.& nbsp;

Participants at this meeting are discussing the possible delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Kiev, a move that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has so far strongly publicly rejected. They also discuss the training of Ukrainian soldiers and possible military targets.

Olaf Scholz, visiting Rome, told the press that this possible leak was "very serious". "This is why it is currently the subject of very careful, very intensive and very rapid clarification. It's also necessary", he said.

The Russian embassy in Berlin did not respond to an email request for comment Saturday on allegations of possible espionage. "We demand an explanation from Germany", a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry wrote on social networks.

Speaking to the press, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov denounced "sneaky plans by the Bundeswehr (German armed forces ) came to light following the publication of this audio recording".

Roderich Kiesewetter, a member of the German Parliament, told the newspaper Handelsblatt that he considered the reported information to be authentic. "Russia is of course showing how much it uses espionage and sabotage in hybrid warfare. We can expect that many more things have been intercepted and leaked in order to influence decisions, discredit and manipulate people", a he declared.