Berlin on Sunday accused Russia of trying to "destabilize" Germany by publishing the recording on Russian social media, in which participants discussed the possible use of German-made Taurus missiles.

"The German ambassador arrived at the Russian foreign ministry, where he was summoned in connection with the publicized conversation of German officers about Crimea," Russian state-run agency RIA Novosti said.

It published a video of the envoy arriving at the ministry in Moscow, declining to answer the questions of Russian journalists.

A 38-minute recording of talks between German officers was posted late on Friday on Russian social media.

The officers were discussing the possible use in Ukraine of German-made Taurus missiles and their potential impact.

Topics included aiming the missiles at targets such as a key bridge over the Kerch strait linking the Russian mainland to Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.

A German defense ministry spokeswoman confirmed to AFP that the ministry believed a conversation in the air force division had been "intercepted".

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has promised a full investigation into the leaks.