In a startling revelation, Germany has launched an investigation into the apparent interception by Russia of army officers discussing the supply of long-range missiles to Ukraine. The officers were also heard discussing possible targets during a video-conference meeting, which was later leaked by the head of Russia's state-run RT channel on social media.

The leaked audio revealed that the officers discussed how the missiles could potentially target the Kerch Bridge, connecting Russia to the illegally annexed Crimea. Russian politicians seized on this information, claiming that it proved Germany, their "sworn enemy," was plotting attacks.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed concern over the leak, calling it a "very serious matter." He further emphasized that the investigation would be conducted meticulously and expeditiously to uncover the truth. According to Der Spiegel magazine, the video-conference took place not on a secure internal army network but on the WebEx platform.

The 38-minute audio recording was disclosed by Margarita Simonyan, the head of RT, who asserted that it provided evidence of Germany planning strikes on Crimea. The discussions within the recording centered around the potential use of German-made Taurus missiles by Ukrainian forces and the potential impact they could have.

A spokesperson from the German defense ministry confirmed that the leaked conversation involved the air force but stated that it was uncertain if the voices in the recording were tampered with prior to its publication. Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry demanded prompt explanations from Germany and warned that any attempt to avoid answering questions would be interpreted as an admission of guilt.

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia's Security Council and foreign ministry, expressed outrage at the alleged plans discussed by the Germans. He claimed that such detailed discussions demonstrated Germany's transformation into a sworn enemy. Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, echoed these sentiments, stating that the intercepted conversation exposed the "cunning plans" of the German armed forces.

It is worth noting that Ukraine seeks to acquire Taurus missiles from Germany, which have a range of approximately 500km (300 miles). Consequently, France and Britain have already supplied Ukraine with Scalp or Storm Shadow missiles, both having a shorter range.

Roderich Kiesewetter, a member of Germany's opposition conservatives, issued a warning that further recordings may be leaked in the future. He speculated that the release of this conversation by Russia may be a deliberate effort to prevent Germany from delivering Taurus missiles to Ukraine.

As the investigation unfolds, both Germany and Ukraine face mounting pressure to address the implications of this intercepted conversation. The incident serves as a reminder of the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with Germany becoming embroiled in the crossfire.