A German military officer used an unsecured phone line at a Singapore hotel to join a conference call that was hacked by Russians and leaked to the public, causing embarrassment to the German government and escalating tensions between Germany and Russia.
The leaked audio tape featured high-ranking German air force officers discussing hypothetical scenarios involving the use of Taurus long-range cruise missiles by Kyiv against Russian forces. The officer in question participated in the Singapore Air Show and dialed into the WebEx call using either his mobile phone or the hotel's Wi-Fi, instead of a secured line as required for such calls.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that the breach was a result of targeted hacking in hotels used by military officers, emphasizing that the access to the phone conference was likely a chance hit as part of a broader approach by Russian secret services.
While the investigation is ongoing and security measures have been heightened, Pistorius indicated that severe personal consequences for the officer involved were unlikely, as he refused to sacrifice his best officers to Russian manipulation.
The leaked 38-minute audio recording was posted on social media by a Russian state-funded television channel editor, coinciding with the burial of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and ahead of Russia's presidential election. Despite the authenticity of the recording not being questioned by German authorities, Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated that delivering weapons to Ukraine was not an option for Germany.
Russia's Foreign Ministry issued threats of 'dire consequences' to Germany in connection with the leak, further straining relations between the two countries that have deteriorated since Russia's invasion of Ukraine two years ago.
The leaked audio revealed discussions among German officers, including the head of Germany's air force, regarding deployment scenarios for Taurus missiles in Ukraine. The officers highlighted the challenges of early delivery and rapid deployment of the missiles without direct German soldier involvement.
Despite the leak, Germany has not approved the delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine, with Scholz emphasizing Germany's reluctance to be directly involved in the conflict. Germany remains a significant military aid provider to Ukraine, second only to the United States.
Pistorius acknowledged the severity of the leak's impact but emphasized the need to refocus on supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. The leaked audio has influenced the German agenda, aligning with Russian objectives to shape the discourse in Germany.
