Russia publishes German army meeting on Ukraine
BBC NewsMar 02
Germany Launches Investigation After Recording of Officials Leaked
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The Facts
Germany has said it will launch an investigation, after a recording of a meeting between top-ranking German officials was posted online by Russian media last week.
In the 38 minutes of audio — posted online Friday and subsequently confirmed as genuine — German officers could be heard discussing how Germany's Taurus missiles could be used in Ukraine, including to strike the Kerch Bridge that connects Russian-annexed Crimea to the country's mainland.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
This is a very serious security breach that puts even more heat on German officials following indiscreet public commentary on the Ukraine war. Not only will Russia be able to use this clip for propaganda purposes and prevent German delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine, it has likely intercepted more calls that will later be released. This must be investigated imminently.
Pro-Russia narrative
The conversation between German military officers couldn't have been clearer. Not only did officials discuss how to attack the Kerch Bridge, they also revealed that they're very much involved in the planning and implementation. This either reveals Germany's unofficial international policy, or shows that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is not in control of his military. Neither is good news for Berlin.
Nerd narrative
The Christian Democratic Union has a 75% chance of winning the most seats in the next German federal elections before 2026, according to the Metaculus forecasting community.