Is Vladimir Putin behind Germany's military leak?

A recording of Germany’s confidential army talks about the Ukraine war went viral on Russian social media on Friday. In this 38-minute recording, the officers discuss their support for Ukraine, including the potential use of Taurus missiles. The audio was reportedly leaked by Russian state media, which has sparked concern in Germany.

Germany’s defence minister, Boris Pistorius, described the leak as part of Russia’s “information war” against the West. The timing of the leak, which occurred on the same day as the funeral of late Opposition politician Alexei Navalny, is also not coincidental. Pistorius believes that Russia intends to sow discord in Germany and undermine unity.

While the officers in the recording talk about the theoretical possibility of using Taurus missiles in Ukraine, Pistorius emphasises that they made it clear that the “line of war participation” would not be crossed. The leak has fuelled the ongoing debate in Germany over whether to supply these missiles to Ukraine, particularly as Ukraine suffers battlefield setbacks and awaits military assistance from the United States.

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Here’s, what’s on the 38-minute tape? Did Vladimir Putin leak in order to ‘destabilise’ Germany?

What’s in the leaked tapes?

In the 38-minute recording, military officers discuss the question of how the Taurus long-range cruise missiles could be used by Ukraine. The audio was leaked as a debate has been taking place in Germany over whether to supply the missiles.

The officers talk about how the missiles could hit the Kerch Bridge, which connects Russia to the illegally annexed Crimea. The head of Russia’s state-run Russia Today, Margarita Simonyan_,_ posted audio from the video-conference meeting on Telegram, reports The Guardian. The conversation in the recording also touched on the use of long-range missiles supplied to Kyiv by France and Britain.

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“This is clearly about undermining our unity,” Pistorius said.

Ukraine has been asking for the missile as it faces setbacks on the battlefield after two years of war, and with military aid from the United States being held up in Congress.

Earlier this week, German chancellor Olaf Scholz said he remains reluctant to send the Taurus missiles to Ukraine, pointing to a risk of Germany becoming directly involved in the war. His hesitancy is a source of friction in his three-party coalition and also annoyed Germany’s conservative Opposition.

But in the purported audio recording, German officers discuss the theoretical possibility of the missiles being used in Ukraine.

Pistorius said the officers made clear at all times in the recording that “the line of war participation … would not be crossed.”

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said the timing was not a coincidence.

“It is part of an information war that Putin is waging. There is absolutely no doubt about that,” he said. “It is a hybrid attack aimed at disinformation. It is about division. It is about undermining our resolve.”

Speaking at a news briefing in Berlin, Pistorius added: “Accordingly, we should react in a particularly level-headed manner, but no less resolutely.”

Is it concerning?

Germany termed it an apparent act of eavesdropping.

The apparent leak of the conversation is “a very serious matter, and that is why it is now being investigated very carefully, very intensively, and very quickly,” said Germany’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz on Saturday, as reported by BBC.

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, demanded that Germany “promptly” provide explanations.

“Attempts to avoid answering the questions will be regarded as an admission of guilt,” she went on to say, as reported by BBC.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov described it as “cunning plans of the Bundeswehr (German armed forces), which became apparent following the publication of this audio recording,” reports Hindustan Times.

“This is blatant self-exposure.”

Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and current deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, said the recording suggested Berlin was preparing to fight Moscow.

With inputs from AP