Russia likely has more intercepted conversations from German officials
Russia likely has additional intercepted conversations from Germany that it could use to create distrust between Western partners, representatives of intelligence agencies reported to Bild, commenting on the leak of conversations of German generals.
"Such operations, though often successful, are usually kept secret to protect intelligence sources,” former had of Germany’s BND foreign intelligence, August Hanning, said.
“This leaked operation might just be the tip of the iceberg."
Russia may have obtained many more intercepted conversations, Hanning believes.
Berlin should prepare for further leaks in the coming weeks and months, British intelligence expert Neil Barnett concurred.
Russia is trying to influence public opinion in Germany and drive a wedge between Western allies, he said.
Roderich Kiesewetter, a Bundestag deputy and CDU foreign policy expert, also shares this view.
"I think it's quite likely that other members of the German government and ministries, including the chancellor and his inner circle, have been eavesdropped on,” he said.
“The publication of this material is just a matter of time and opportunity."
Russia will leak this data when it considers the timing advantageous, Kiesewetter believes.
Leak of conversations among German generals: What's known
Russian propagandists published a recording on March 1 that claimed to feature German officers discussing supplying Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles and how those missiles could be used to target the Crimean Bridge.
The German Defense Ministry confirmed on March 2 that the intercepted conversation was authentic.
Germany announced on March 3 that it would investigate the leaked recording of the conversation. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called the leak a "very serious matter."
The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry summoned the German ambassador to Moscow on March 4.
Russian propagandists are trying to spread the false idea that there are discrepancies in Western support for Ukraine and that Russia is not fighting the Ukrainian Armed Forces but rather a "collective NATO bloc," White House Communications Security Advisor John Kirby said.
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