Russian war of aggression
Leak of secret US documents overshadows warfare
The USA is also said to have spied on him: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. photo
© Michal Dyjuk/AP/dpa
Secret US documents on Russian war of aggression have surfaced on the internet. Ukraine then changes its military plans. The documents show how deeply Washington is also scrutinizing its allies.
According to a report by the US television channel CNN, the Ukrainian leadership is angry because of the published secret documents on the Russian war of aggression. The country has therefore already changed some of its military plans, CNN reported, citing those close to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
A document shows that the United States also spied on Zelenskyy. The fact in itself is not a surprise, but Ukrainian officials are deeply frustrated by the data leak, CNN wrote, citing a person close to Zelenskyy.
According to reports in numerous US media, the documents show how deeply Washington’s secret services also scrutinize their allies.
Weaknesses of Ukrainian anti-aircraft defenses
The “New York Times”, for example, reported on weaknesses in the Ukrainian air defense system, citing the documents. This must be strengthened to withstand the Russian attacks. Ukraine has long been demanding more ammunition and weapons for the war against Russia. Russia sees the published documents as further evidence of US and NATO involvement in the war in Ukraine.
The Kremlin follows the publications with interest. “The leaks are reasonably interesting, everyone is studying, analyzing and discussing them broadly,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
When asked about a possible involvement of Russian authorities in the publication, the Kremlin spokesman said that he could not comment. “We all know that this is again a tendency to blame Russia for everything, always and everywhere, and to pin everything on Russia,” said Peskov. This blame is a “common disease”, which is why there is nothing to comment on.
Peskov commented on reports that Zelenskyy had also been spied on by the US authorities. “You can’t rule that out,” he said. Cases have already become known in the past in which the USA spied on various heads of state and government, especially in the European capitals, which then led to scandals. In 2013, for example, then-Chancellor Angela Merkel was outraged because a US secret service tapped her cell phone.
It is also unclear who published the documents, including those of the US secret services, and whether they are all genuine. Analysts had partially proven manipulation of the photographed documents – in the interests of Russia.
43,000 Russian soldiers killed so far
CNN, citing a document, reported that 43,000 Russian soldiers have been killed so far during the war. On the Ukrainian side, the number of dead was 17,500, it said. According to experts, in the manipulated versions of the documents that surfaced in Russian channels, the number of Russians killed was half as high, while the number of Ukrainians killed was higher than in the original version.
According to CNN, US intelligence was also able to uncover plans by the Russian side to attack the tanks supplied by NATO countries. Several US media reported that because of the intercepted information, Russia may now change lines of communication to cover up its plans. US authorities also fear that information providers in the Russian ranks could be in danger.
According to CNN, intercepted information on the Ukrainian side could have led to the United States not supplying the country with longer-range missiles, for example to prevent Kiev attacks on Russian territory. According to a document, Zelenskyj suggested that Russian positions in the Rostov area be shelled. Drones should be used for this.