Leaked US secret documents: “A nightmare” | tagesschau.de

Two days after the publication of secret US documents on the Internet, their explosive nature is being discussed. Because the documents probably contain information about Ukraine’s military capabilities and the work of the US secret services.

Two days after secret US documents surfaced on the Internet, a discussion about their explosive nature erupted. According to information from US media, the documents provide information about arms deliveries to Ukraine and ammunition consumption. They also reveal details about the strength and position of Ukrainian and Russian associations. As the New York Times reports, the documents also contained information on NATO and US plans to help Kiev prepare for a possible spring offensive against Russia.

According to the Washington Post, in addition to information about Ukraine, secret analyzes of other countries – such as China and Israel – were also published. In addition, the papers would provide information about how the US secret services collect their information and on which sources they rely. This insight into the practice of the US secret services could be extremely valuable for Russia or China, for example. Moscow could read from the documents how far its own security apparatus has been penetrated by US spies – and close these weak points. A leading intelligence officer spoke to the New York Times of a “nightmare.”

Some documents probably manipulated

It is still unclear whether all the published documents are genuine. According to the news channel CNN, employees of the US government basically confirmed the authenticity of the documents. However, the “Washington Post” also reports, citing officials from the authorities, that at least some documents have been manipulated. This coincides with the findings of the investigative research network Bellingcat. Their experts were able to prove that at least some documents were clearly manipulated afterwards.

It is also unclear who is behind the publication. The documents first appeared on the Discord platform, which is popular with gamers, at the beginning of March, and were then distributed on the 4Chan image board. Eventually, the documents surfaced on Twitter and Russian Telegram channels. However, most of the documents were quickly deleted.

In the meantime, the US Department of Justice has initiated investigations – the focus is on the US itself. Thousands of employees of the US authorities may have had access to the documents, a Pentagon employee told the “Washington Post”. In any case, those who published the documents could face severe penalties: In the USA, the disclosure and publication of secret documents is a punishable offense, especially if national security is affected.

Relevant information for Moscow

And what are the consequences of the “leaks” for the course of the war? None at all, according to Ukraine. In Kiev, people are demonstratively relaxed and speak of the “ordinary secret service game”. Russia itself created the documents to drive a wedge between the West and Ukraine.

On the other hand, however, are the alarmed statements by US government employees and secret service officials. The head of the US think tank Silverado Policy Accelerator, Dimitri Alperovitch, told the Washington Post that the documents could do some damage. Although they do not contain any concrete battle plans, they do give Moscow information about the type and quantity of Western weapons in Ukraine and about the personnel who can operate these weapons: relevant information about Ukraine’s defense capabilities.