In a recent development, senior German officials have corroborated the authenticity of recordings capturing military officers during an online conference held on the Cisco’s WebEx platform.

According to reports from The Wall Street Journal, this confirmation sheds light on the usage of commercial, unencrypted platforms like Cisco’s WebEx within sensitive government departments, including the military.

During the conference, it was noted that one officer participated in the meeting remotely, using a mobile phone linked to a hotel number in Singapore.

The revelation has prompted concerns among officials familiar with the ongoing German investigation into the leaked audio recordings.

The central focus of the conference revolved around discussions regarding Germany’s potential involvement in supplying and deploying long-range cruise missiles known as “Taurus” to Ukraine.

Notably, officers also alleged the presence of British, French, and US military personnel in Ukraine, purportedly to assist in operating modern Western weaponry, a claim refuted by the mentioned nations.

Throughout the discussion, General Ingo Gerhardt, Commander of the German Air Force, directed his aides to prepare a presentation for the defence minister outlining Germany’s capabilities in supplying “Taurus” missiles to Ukraine.

The presentation also explored potential applications of these missiles, including targeting ammunition depots and the strategically significant Crimean Bridge (pictured above).

In the leaked conversation, German officers asserted their meticulous analysis of targeting methods for critical infrastructure, suggesting the need for 10 to 20 “Taurus” missiles to overcome Russian air defences and destroy the bridge.

Despite assertions from General Gerhardt that Germany possesses around 600 “Taurus” missiles, with 500 considered operational, he indicated Germany’s readiness to provide Ukraine with 100 missiles in two installments.

Pressure from Britain and France was cited as influencing this decision, given their own depleted missile stocks.

General Gerhardt expressed scepticism regarding the efficacy of providing Ukraine with more than 100 missiles, citing the country’s limited military capacity to significantly alter the course of the conflict.

However, he acknowledged the strategic importance of demolishing the Crimean Bridge.

According to the leaked conversation, Ukrainian forces would require six hours to launch a missile after receiving intelligence on a new target.

This timeframe is contingent on the personnel being suitably trained and having access to necessary data.

Furthermore, the German Air Force has reportedly conducted simulations of the battlefield terrain, indicating its readiness to assist Ukrainian forces in circumventing Russian air defences around key targets.

It was noted that the dissemination of topographic data discussed in the conference could potentially breach restrictions imposed by the German government on Germany’s involvement in the conflict.

Training Ukrainian operators to use the “Taurus” missiles is estimated to take between two weeks and four months, depending on the complexity of the tasks involved, according to officers present in the recorded conversation.

General Gerhardt reiterated the chancellor’s insistence that any delivered missiles be operated independently of Berlin’s armed forces.

Suggestions were also made regarding the installation of missiles on Ukrainian aircraft, including Su-24s and F-16s, with potential assistance from US servicemen in Ukraine.

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