The leak of a conversation revealing Britain’s activities on the ground in Ukraine is a security breach that is “worrying on a number of levels,” prominent UK Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood says, according to The Independent.
According to the leaked top-secret call involving German air force officers, authenticated by Berlin, British soldiers are present in Ukraine assisting Kyiv's forces in launching long-range Storm Shadow missiles, The Independent reported.
In the call, the German Air Force Commander, Lt-Gen Ingo Gerhartz, detailed the collaboration between the UK and Ukraine in deploying Storm Shadow missiles against targets beyond Russian lines.
“When it comes to mission planning,” Gerhartz says, “I know how the English do it, they do it completely in reachback. They also have a few people on the ground, they do that, the French don’t.”
On 2 March, Germany initiated an investigation into the leak of a conversation, which Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has characterized as part of Russia's "information war" against the West, aimed at "undermining our resolve."
Germany probes Russia’s leak of military call discussing Taurus missiles for Ukraine
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hesitates to supply Taurus missiles, fearing escalation of Berlin's direct involvement in the war. He has delayed for months on Ukraine's request for Taurus missiles, which have a range of up to 500 kilometers (310 miles) and could potentially be used against distant targets in Russian territory. Scholz has consistently stressed his commitment to aiding Ukraine without escalating the war and involving Germany and NATO directly, emphasizing that no German soldiers will be sent to Ukraine.
Leak "worrying on a number of decibel levels"
UK Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood, a former chair of the Commons Defence Committee, expressed multi-faceted concerns over the leak, highlighting its worrisome nature on multiple levels.
The Independent reports that speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today program, he pointed out various troubling aspects, including the recent Munich Security Conference, where Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Zelenskyy were present.
Ellwood noted Zelenskyy's plea for weapon systems and the public frustration over Germany's reluctance to match Britain in sending long-range air-launched missiles. He also mentioned the frustration with delays in the American $60 billion support package caught up in Congress.
"So this interception and the leak of military planning discussion is worrying on a number of decibel levels," Ellwood stated, further questioning why basic concept protocols were not followed and pondering the implications of the leak in Germany.
Meanwhile, the UK government did not comment on the alleged British involvement on the ground in targeting the Storm Shadow missiles. The Independent says the UK prime Minister's spokesperson said the leak was “a matter for Germany,” and added:
“On our part, the UK was the first country to provide long-range precision strike missiles to Ukraine and we would encourage our allies to do the same. We have been clear from the outset that the UK would provide Ukraine with the necessary aid, including lethal support to defend itself and reclaim its sovereign territory.”
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