How a careless mistake exposed Germany’s secret plans for Ukraine

Vertigo

A recent leak of a confidential call between high-ranking German military officials has revealed the extent of Germany’s involvement in the Ukraine crisis and the potential risks of using unsecured communication channels. 

The call, which was intercepted and published by Russian media on Friday, featured Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, the chief of staff of the German air force, and other senior Luftwaffe officers discussing sensitive military matters related to Ukraine. Among the topics covered were the possible delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Kyiv, the use of long-range missiles provided by France and Britain, and the training of Ukrainian soldiers. 

The most shocking revelation, however, was Gerhartz’s claim that British troops were “on the ground” in Ukraine, supporting the Ukrainian army in its fight against Russian-backed separatists. This contradicts the official position of both London and Kyiv, which have denied any direct involvement of British forces in the conflict. 

The leak has caused a major embarrassment for Germany, which has been trying to play a mediating role between Russia and Ukraine, while also supporting the latter’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The German government has called the leak an apparent act of eavesdropping and said it was investigating the incident. It has also accused Russia of waging an “information war” aimed at creating divisions within Germany and undermining its unity. 

The leak also raises serious questions about the security of Germany’s military communications and the competence of its intelligence services. According to Der Spiegel magazine, the video conference was held on the WebEx platform, and not on a secret internal army network. This means that the call was vulnerable to hacking or interception by anyone with access to the internet. 

The incident highlights the importance of using secure and encrypted communication channels, especially when dealing with sensitive or classified information. It also shows the need for vigilance and caution when discussing military plans or operations, as any leak or exposure could have serious consequences for the national security and foreign policy of the countries involved. 

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