Chief’s call about Brit 'ground' troops in Ukraine 'intercepted by Russia'

04 March 2024 , 11:22

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Major General Ingo Gerhartz (Image: Getty Images)

British military secrets have allegedly been leaked to Russia after a German air chief's phone call was intercepted.

Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz referred to how UK troops are "on the ground" in Ukraine, a move which reportedly has Moscow convinced Nato allies are preparing to fight. The private 38-minute call with Air Force officers and a general via a WebEx platform also referred to how Britain and France are delivering Storm Shadow rockets to Kyiv.

And how they could be used to destroy the Kerch Bridge, connecting Russia to Crimea. German chancellor Olaf Scholz has ordered an investigation, labelling the leak "very serious". He said: "It is a very serious matter and that is why it is now being investigated very carefully, very intensively and very quickly."

Former Army chief Lord Dannatt has said those involved should be "censured pretty heavily". He told Times Radio: "I was very disappointed to read that story. I think the German air force officers who were talking on an open line, frankly, they should be censured pretty heavily.

"They are suggesting that there are British people in Ukraine. It's not for you or me to comment on that. We have provided a lot of equipment to them. We provided a lot of training. As far as I'm concerned, I think what they were talking about was whether they would or wouldn't supply a German system akin to our Storm Shadow.

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Two fully armed British soldiers during a training mission (stock image) (Getty Images)

"I suspect that we do our training on Storm Shadow, either in this country or in Poland or elsewhere. It's not for you or I to confirm or deny whether there are British military in Ukraine." Lord Dannatt said he would like defence spending to increase by up to 4%, but he does not expect Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to do so in Wednesday's Budget.

He said: "I'm afraid you can't get away from the fact that there's a brutal war going on in Europe at the present moment, and that we have an absolute duty to support the Ukrainians, and also to make sure that we look after our own security. So it does make spending on defence a pretty strong case - in fact, a very strong case.

"But I think we will probably all accept that, actually, political pressures at home are going to mean that, notwithstanding the strength of the case to spend more on defence. And it's a very strong case. I don't actually expect the Chancellor will do that on Wednesday." He added that there is a "very strong case to say we should be giving the Ukrainians more, to support them more".

General Lord Dannatt (Getty Images)

The phone call itself was aired across Kremlin-controlled TV, reports The Telegraph. Gerhartz says in the recording: “If we’re asked about delivery methods. I know how the British do this. They always transport them in Ridgeback armoured vehicles. They have several people on the ground."

He then speaks about France also sending missiles to Ukraine, which are delivered in Audi Q7s. A second voice can be heard on the recording, which is thought to be Brigadier General Frank Graefe. He can be heard chatting about how Ukrainian soldiers are trained on German soil.

He then blurts out that once they've been trained in Germany the “right course of action” would be for Britain to “take over”. Before adding: “Just imagine the uproar if the media were to find out." One participant can be heard suggesting taking the conversation over to WhatsApp.

German opposition politician Roderich Kiesewetter says the leak was probably caused by a Russian intelligence agent who joined the call. A spokesman told Bild an “insufficiently secure means of communication was used". The German defence ministry confirmed the call as an authentic recording.

Russia's Dmitry Medvedev claimed this proved Germany was “preparing for war against Russia”. The deputy head of Russia's Security Council said on Telegram: "Our age-old rivals - the Germans - have again turned into our sworn enemies.

"Look, with what thoroughness and in such detail the [Germans] discuss striking our territory with long-range missiles, choose targets to hit and discuss how to inflict the maximum harm to our motherland and our people."

Ryan Merrifield