German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has stated that Russia is engaging in an “information war” with Germany by intercepting and divulging a confidential conversation between senior Bundeswehr officers about Ukraine.
Pistorius, speaking out for the first time since the leak on Sunday, attributed the act to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attempt to foster discord and division within Germany.
Pistorius highlighted the intention behind the leak as an effort to destabilize Germany, expressing hope that Putin’s endeavors would not be successful.
The controversy began when Margarita Simonyan, the head of the Russian state broadcaster RT, unveiled a 38-minute audio clip late Friday, capturing four officers deliberating over the potential dispatch of Taurus missiles to Ukraine.
The following day, Germany’s Defense Ministry acknowledged the authenticity of the recording and confirmed it was obtained through wiretapping.
The defense minister emphasized that the incident transcends a mere interception and release of a discussion, viewing it as a component of Putin’s broader strategy in the information conflict.
He mentioned that an internal probe was underway, with findings expected at the beginning of the next week, and addressed the need to reassess the security of communication platforms, specifically referencing the use of Webex for the intercepted meeting.
Pistorius refrained from discussing any personnel actions pending the investigation’s outcome but did not dismiss the possibility of “disciplinary action” for any misconduct identified.
Concurrently, Eva Högl, the parliament’s special military commissioner from the Social Democrats, has called for enhanced secure communication training for top military officials and immediate improvements to ensure secure and confidential information transfer.
Högl also stressed the importance of intensifying counterespionage efforts, particularly through the Military Counterintelligence Service (MAD).
Meanwhile, 20,000 soldiers from ten NATO member countries are set to cross the Vistula River, Poland’s longest river as part of an exercise aimed at deterring Russia.
