(Dan Tri) – The unprecedented leak of classified documents related to the war in Ukraine is said to be confusing US officials and this could affect intelligence sharing activities between allies.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley (Photo: Getty).
Pentagon confusion
Public opinion in recent days has been stirred up by the leak of a series of confidential Pentagon documents related to the war in Ukraine, including plans to support Kiev, along with a series of other international issues.
According to analysts, the number of these confidential documents is up to 100 pages, of which the New York Times has accessed more than 50 pages.
Two senior US officials told the Washington Post that, after the above incident, the Pentagon `restricted the flow of intelligence information`, an unusual restriction that showed the `level of panic` of officials.
The information in this secret document demonstrates the deep level of US penetration into Russia’s security and intelligence agencies.
The document contains real-time daily warnings sent to US intelligence agencies about when Moscow might strike and even specific targets in Ukraine.
For example, one document refers to a Russian plan to launch a missile attack on Ukrainian forces at specific locations in Odessa and Mykolaiv on March 3 – an attack that the US believes was designed to destroy the area.
In addition to these warnings, the document also includes information assessing the current state of Russian military capabilities.
Another document refers to the propaganda plans of the Russian Military Intelligence Agency (GRU).
The document also points out challenges that Ukraine is facing such as ammunition shortages or the Russian army’s advance around the eastern city of Bakhmut.
One of the documents refers to the US assessment of the number of casualties of both Russia and Ukraine.
According to the Wall Street Journal, US officials on April 8 began assessing the impact of the leak, which can be considered the most damaging intelligence scandal in recent decades.
Some US officials said that although some of the documents appeared two months ago, their disclosure could affect the conflict in Ukraine because they were intended to highlight potential weaknesses in the Ukraine.
On the Ukrainian side, the country’s officials confirmed that the secret document `had been modified or falsified`, the purpose was to `sow skepticism among Ukraine’s partners`.
Potential risks
The leak could affect the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine (Illustration: AFP).
The leak could affect US intelligence gathering because it would reveal which Russian agencies Washington knows best, which would give Moscow a chance to stop it.
Western officials and analysts say it is too early to assess the impact of the leak, but if Russia determines how the US collects information and cuts off that source, it could affect the US.
In addition, the leak will likely further complicate relations between the US and its allies, raising doubts about America’s reliability in security.
After evaluating the documents, a senior Western intelligence official said that the leak would likely limit intelligence sharing because this activity requires trust and commitment from the public.
In addition, it can also affect diplomatic relations.
Republican Representative Mike Gallagher, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, said he expected President Joe Biden administration officials to brief lawmakers on the issue when Congress returns.
`It looks like this is a huge counterintelligence issue, the fact that these documents were leaked. We’re talking about things that could harm national security and the CIA’s efforts in