Germany has accused Russia of leaking an intercepted recording of German military discussions regarding how to assist Ukraine against the Kremlin's invasion, purportedly as a tactic to sow division within Europe.

Last week, Russian media released an audio recording of a Webex meeting among senior German military officials. The discussion centered on providing weapons to Ukraine and the possibility of Kyiv launching a strike on a bridge in Crimea.

Germany has verified the authenticity of the 38-minute call, acknowledging it as part of an ongoing investigation into what they describe as an act of eavesdropping by Russia. The incident is characterized as part of an "information war" by German officials.

Participants in the call were heard discussing the potential delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Kyiv, a proposal Chancellor Olaf Scholz has publicly opposed. Additionally, they deliberated on the delivery and operational aspects of cruise missiles with shorter ranges by France and Britain.

Meanwhile, analysts suggest that the recording is likely to strain ties among allies, given that it constitutes another significant security breach and exposes the extent of German reluctance to become heavily involved in the conflict.

A government spokesman asserted that the hybrid attack aimed to create insecurity and sow division among European nations. He emphasized that such tactics would not be tolerated and reiterated ongoing communication with partner countries.

Moscow has accused the "collective West" of utilizing Ukraine as a proxy battleground against Russia, while NATO maintains that it is aiding Ukraine in its defense against aggression.

A spokesman for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak informed reporters that the leak was within Germany's jurisdiction to investigate, emphasizing Britain's commitment to collaborating with Germany in supporting Ukraine.

Britain was the first nation to supply long-range precision strike missiles to Ukraine, urging other allies to follow suit. Tobias Ellwood, a Conservative lawmaker and ex-chair of the parliamentary defense committee, suggested that Russia likely gained no new intelligence from the leak due to its extensive espionage operations. He emphasized the necessity for diplomatic discussions among Germany, Britain, and NATO regarding the incident.

In late 2022, German authorities arrested a suspected Russian spy within the German Foreign Intelligence Service, adding to a series of embarrassing security breaches in Germany. Finance Minister Christian Lindner characterized the incident as a "wake-up call" to the fact that Germany is a target of Russian President Putin.

The Kremlin asserted that the recording revealed discussions within Germany's armed forces regarding plans to launch strikes on Russian territory, casting doubt on Chancellor Scholz's control over the situation.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov informed reporters that the recording indicated substantive and concrete discussions within the Bundeswehr about launching strikes on Russian territory.

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