A leaked call between police officers German airforce revealed that British soldiers were “on the ground”. Ukraine to help fire longrange Storm Shadow missiles against the Russia. The conversation was published this Friday, 1, by Margarita SimonyanPublisher of the news channel RT, controlled by Kremlin, and was confirmed by Berlin. The phone call is believed to have been hacked by Russian agents, who passed it on to the journalist so that the content could be published on Telegram.
The recording shows a discussion between Air Force officers about how Berlinmade Taurus missiles could be used to blow up the Kerch Bridge, which connects Russia to the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014. During the 38minute discussion, the head of the German air force, Ingo Gerhartz, referred to the deployment of British troops on the battlefield against Moscow.
“When it comes to mission planning, I know how the British do things,” Gerhartz said. “They do it completely in reachback. They also have some people on site, they do it, the French don’t.”
The military term “reachback” refers to the manner in which information, equipment and support are transmitted from the rear to units at the front. However, the lieutenant general points out that the British approach is even more advanced by involving soldiers at the conflict points.
+ Putin warns NATO of the danger of nuclear war
Continued after advertisement
Statement from Scholz
Officials' considerations about the possible use of Taurus missiles contradict an earlier statement by Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Last Monday he announced that he would not send supplies of the equipment to Ukraine because this would require the participation of German military personnel, even remotely, “in the form of target control and subsequent target control.”
As a result, Scholz explained, the donation for Berlin runs the risk of becoming a “participant in war,” arguing that “German soldiers cannot be associated with the goals of this system at any time or in any place.” [o Taurus] reached.”
In the phone call on the eve of a meeting between Gerhartz and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, the four German officials try to find ways to get around Scholz's decision. They also complain that a German journalist was told that the missiles were not as effective, with the possibility that the discovery would be quickly passed on to the Chancellor. The Taurus is estimated to have a greater maximum range than the Storm Shadow and Scalp.
The group then came to the conclusion that rapid delivery and immediate use of the missiles was only possible with the participation of German soldiers. There was also the idea of training Kiev's troops, but the proposal would require months of preparation.
Continued after advertisement
+ Russia warns of conflict with NATO if the alliance sends troops to Ukraine
Russia x United Kingdom
Reacting to the incident, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the leaked conversations “once again show the direct involvement of the collective West in the conflict in Ukraine.” Pistorius, in turn, countered and accused Moscow of an “information war”.
However, the British presence became known last Tuesday when Britain confirmed the presence of a “small number of personnel” in Ukraine. In an interview with the BBC, former British defense minister Tobias Ellwood said the revelation was embarrassing for Germany, but countered that Russia should have already had the information given its sophisticated espionage plans.