Taurus cruise missile
Was Russia listening in on the Bundeswehr? Politicians are worried
Tornado fighter jet with a Taurus cruise missile
© Andrea Bienert / DPA
According to a report in the “Bild” newspaper, Russian authorities are said to have listened in on an internal conversation between German Bundeswehr officers about the Taurus cruise missile. Politicians are outraged.
Politicians from the Greens and the CDU/CSU have expressed concern about reports that… Russia intercepted an internal conversation between German Bundeswehr officers about the Taurus cruise missile. “If this story turns out to be true, it would be a highly problematic process,” said the chairman of the Bundestag’s parliamentary control committee, Konstantin von Notz (Greens), on Friday to the newspapers of the editorial network Germany (RND).
“The question arises as to whether this is a one-off event or a structural security problem,” added the Green politician. “I expect all background information to be clarified immediately.”
More leaks expected
The CDU defense politician Roderich Kiesewetter warned against publishing further intercepted conversations. “Several other conversations will certainly have been intercepted and may have been leaked at a later date for the benefit of Russia,” he told the news portal ZDFheute.de. It can be assumed “that the conversation was specifically leaked by Russia at this point in time with a specific intention. This can only be to prevent a Taurus delivery from Germany.”
The “Bild” newspaper had previously reported that Russian propaganda channels had published a recording of a wiretapped conversation between Bundeswehr officers. You can hear four Bundeswehr officers discussing the capabilities of the Taurus cruise missile and what challenges would be associated with delivery to Ukraine.
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defense told the newspaper that it was checking “whether communications in the Air Force area were intercepted.” The Federal Office for the Military Counterintelligence Service has “introduced all necessary measures”.
Discussion about Ukraine’s Taurus usage
According to the “Bild” newspaper, in the conversation the officers also discussed ways in which Taurus cruise missiles could be used in Ukraine even without specific target data transmission by the Bundeswehr. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) justified his rejection of Taurus deliveries in detail at the beginning of the week, primarily arguing technically. The use of Taurus cruise missiles by Ukraine would require the participation of German soldiers in targeting, he said.
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Scholz fears that Germany could be indirectly drawn into the Ukraine war. Representatives of the coalition partners Greens and FDP, on the other hand, openly advocate for Taurus deliveries to Ukraine.
The report on the Bundeswehr officers’ Taurus conversation that was allegedly intercepted came on the same day that several media outlets reported that former Wirecard board member Jan Marsalek had apparently been active for Russian secret services for years.