German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius sees the phone hacking scandal in the German Bundeswehr as part of an “information war” waged by Russian President Vladimir Putin. “It’s a hybrid disinformation attack – it’s about division, it’s about undermining our unity,” Pistorius said today in Berlin. “We must not fall for Putin.” This is why we have to react prudently, “but no less decisively”.
In the coming days he expects information on investigations by the Military Counterintelligence Service (MAD) into the exact background to the incident, Pistorius said. It must be checked whether IT security regulations have been violated. Only then will you be able to decide on the consequences, including in personal matters.
On Friday, Russian state television published on the Internet a recording of a confidential telephone conference between high-ranking Bundeswehr officials. In it you can hear the head of the German Air Force, Ingo Gerhartz, talking to three subordinates about the possible use of Taurus cruise missiles in Ukraine against Russian attackers.
Scholz: “Very serious matter”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) spoke of a “very serious matter” and announced that it would be clarified quickly. FDP defense politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann asked for a quick clarification from MAD. She sees a possible impediment to delivery, but reiterated that she is “of course” in favor of it.
Meanwhile, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev accused Germany of preparing for war with Russia. Attempts to portray the conversation between Bundeswehr officers as a mere mind game about missiles and tanks are “malicious lies”, the vice-chairman of the Russian Security Council said on Telegram today.
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