Online leaks have revealed secret documents that reveal US, UK and NATO allies’ efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s military forces in advance of a new offensive against Russian troops.

The US defense department is currently investigating the source of the potentially dangerous leak. It posted screenshots of classified military documents on , Telegram and Twitter .

The New York Times first reported the breach. Military analysts said that the files appeared to have been modified in some parts. This could indicate an attempt by Moscow to spread disinformation.

Yaroslav Trofimov, Wall Street Journal reporter, stated that Russian propaganda media appeared to have photoshopped at least one document after the originals were posted.

Advertisement

Ukraine war: Russia gains ‘further benefits’ in Bakhmut, after the stalled advance

Trofimov observed that there was a sudden increase in the number Ukrainian casualties, equipment losses and a dramatic decrease in Russian battle damage.

Mykhailo podolyak, a Ukrainian presidential official, stated that the leak appeared to be a Russian disinformation operation and contained “very large amounts of fictitious data”.

It is an act that enables you to steal secret documents and leak them without modification. This is information warfare, which can be used to weaken your opponent.

Russia would be well served if information about Ukraine’s war plans and Western support was leaked online.

The classified files, which include one marked “top secret”, and another marked “secret”, were created in late February and early March.

They don’t give any details or dates about Ukraine’s planned spring offensive in the east or south.

They do however provide clues as to the type of military formations that Western allies help their Ukrainian counterparts build.

Leaked Plans widely shared

According to the New York Times, US officials tried to get the files removed from social media sites.

As of Friday morning however, the leaked versions were still widely shared.

This comes as Russian forces make further gains in the embattled Bakhmut, and now Ukraine’s supply routes are “severely endangered”, according to British intelligence.

Continue reading:

Finland joins NATO after Russia threatens to ‘counter-measures’

Macron urges Xi bring Russia to the negotiating table

Bakhmut, an east Ukrainian city, has seen intense fighting over the past several months. Both sides have lost so many troops that it is being called a “meat grinder”.

Russia’s march had been stalled since March but it now appears to have “likely advanced into town centre and seized west bank of Bakhmuta River”, according to the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD), in its most recent Defence Intelligence update.

Subscribe to Ukraine War Diaries wherever your podcasts are available

This has put Ukraine’s main supply route to the west side of the town at risk, which could hinder their fighting efforts.

The MoD stated that Russia’s regular forces, likely to include airborne troops, had reinforced the area. Russia also used artillery in the sector again.

According to the MoD, one reason for this “regained momentum” is that Wagner mercenary commanders and Russian commanders “paused their ongoing feud and began working together.

The general staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces stated that over 40 “enemy strikes” were defeated in the last 24 hours.

According to the unit that oversees the operational management of Kyiv’s troops, Russia launched 53 rockets, five missiles, and 18 air strikes in different parts of the country.

Moscow continued to concentrate its efforts on Lyman, Bakhmut and Avdiivka.