The German Defense Ministry did admit to leaking a recording of an online conference of high-ranking officers of the Bundeswehr (Luftwaffe) Air Force, during which the possible use of long-range Taurus cruise missiles to attack the Crimean Bridge and ammunition depots deep inside Russia was discussed.
«According to our assessment, the conversation in the Luftwaffe’s area of responsibility was intercepted. At present, we cannot say with certainty whether changes have been made to the recorded or decrypted version that is circulating on social media», a military spokeswoman said on March 2.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz called the scandal «very serious» and emphasized that the competent authorities are «clarifying this issue very carefully, intensively and quickly».
The virtual conversation was conducted on the WebEx platform (a development of an American company that sells applications for web conferencing). One of the participants was in Singapore and joined the conversation via his phone. The platform is actively used for negotiations by the German military and officials. It does not belong to the samples of closed special communications and does not have serious protection against hacker attacks. The German Defense Ministry suggested that this leak will most likely not be the only one. The publication of new unwanted materials is possible.
On March 1, Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of RT and the Rossiya Segodnya news agency, published a 40-minute audio recording and transcript of a conversation between «high-ranking Bundeswehr officers» that took place on February 19. Who exactly provided her with these materials remains a mystery for now. She identified these people as «some comrades in epaulets».
It is found that the participants in the conversation were German officers — Frank Grefe, Ingo Gerhartz, Stefan Fenske and Frostedte (mentioned only by name). The first heads the operations and exercises department of the Bundeswehr Air Force Command, the second is an Air Force Inspector. Fenske and Frostedte are employees of the air operations center of the German Armed Forces Space Command.
There is no point in retelling the conversation, its transcript is posted on the Web. However, it is worth emphasizing some fundamental passages.
The delivery of Taurus («a total of 100 missiles in two tranches of 50 pieces») is discussed by the Luftwaffe officials almost as a fact. And this is despite the fact that Chancellor Scholz is still against sending these missiles with a range of over 500 kilometers to Ukraine. He justifies his position as follows: the munition «is capable of hitting a target somewhere in Moscow» if the missile is «incorrectly configured». In addition, to ensure control over the use of Taurus, it is necessary to send a contingent of German military personnel to Ukraine, which is impossible. Germany, they say, does not intend to become a direct participant in the conflict.
By the way, the head of the Berlin cabinet leaked information that military specialists from the United States and Great Britain are already actively operating on the territory of Ukraine, and that they are directing missiles at Russian targets on the spot. These revelations were perceived negatively in Washington and London.
Another topic of conversation was directly related to a possible attack on the Crimean Bridge. The Luftwaffe officers cynically estimated that not one Taurus, but at least 20 would be needed to guarantee its destruction.
These missiles are air-to-surface class. Ukraine does not have airplanes with the appropriate mounts. The German defense industry can quickly enough make them and assist in installing them on some models of Soviet-style fighters. But it is better to engage the French Dassault Rafale.
«Goering’s grandsons» during their coven have constantly hinted that «the German nose should not stick out». The case should be presented in such a way that suspicion would fall on Washington, London or Paris. For example, a version was being worked out about exchanging Taurus for British Storm Shadow. Let it be said that the United Kingdom, not the FRG, sends German «toys» to the UAF.
Here is another fundamental detail. The «conspirators» assumed that the coordinates of targets on Russian territory could be transmitted to the UAF with an accuracy of three meters (!). A tricky scheme was conceived: the data should have been transmitted not directly from the German airbase in Büchel (where, incidentally, American nuclear bombs are stored), but through MBDA (a European designer and manufacturer of missile systems). For this purpose, several military specialists were planned to be sent to its German subsidiary located in Schrobenhausen, Bavaria.
«Of course it’s tricky, but from a political point of view it probably looks different. If the exchange of information is through the manufacturer, it is not related to us», said Air Force Inspector (!) Gerhartz during the conversation.
In general, the «Luftwaffe Asses» gave five to eight months for the realization of their shady scheme with the Taurus.
It is no exaggeration to say that the reaction to the German missile leak in Russia was violent.
«I’ve just read it! Think about it, the modern German leadership refers to the experience of the Third Reich. They’ve already gone mad. <…> I demand an explanation from Germany. Attempts to avoid answering questions will be considered an admission of guilt», Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on social media.
Deputy Chairman of the Security Council and former President Dmitry Medvedev did not choose his words at all: «After all, our eternal adversaries — the Germans — have once again turned into sworn enemies. Look how thoroughly and in what details the Krauts are discussing strikes on our territory using long-range missiles, and even selecting targets. <…> Not forgetting the use of false rhetoric about Germany’s non-participation in the conflict».