Germany’s defense minister accused Russia of waging an “information war” in an attempt to sow discord within Germany. This statement was made in response to the release of an audio recording from a meeting of high-ranking German military personnel in Russia.

Russian authorities requested an explanation after a 38-minute long recording of a call between German officers discussing arming Ukraine and a potential strike on a Crimean bridge by Kyiv was published by Russian media on Friday.

Germany has deemed the act of eavesdropping on Saturday as an apparent violation and has launched an investigation into the matter.

On Sunday, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that the incident is more than just the interception and release of a conversation, but rather a tactic in an information war being led by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“This is a type of deceitful attack that combines different tactics. Its purpose is to sow division and weaken our sense of unity.”

Despite facing accusations from other nations, the Russian government has consistently denied any involvement in disseminating false or deceptive information.

A representative from the Russian foreign ministry stated on social media on Friday, “We are seeking clarification from Germany,” but did not mention specific areas of concern.

The Russian Embassy in Berlin has yet to reply to an email concerning comment.

During the call, attendees addressed the potential transportation of Taurus cruise missiles to Kyiv. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has openly and firmly opposed this proposition. They also discussed the training of Ukrainian soldiers and potential military objectives.

On Saturday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov addressed the media regarding the revealed audio recording that exposed the deceitful intentions of the German armed forces, also known as the Bundeswehr. Lavrov described their actions as a blatant exposure of themselves.

On Sunday, Dmitry Medvedev, former President of Russia and current deputy chairman of the Security Council, claimed that the recording implies that Berlin was gearing up for a conflict with Moscow.