Kiev: A US military investigation has been sparked, according to the New York Times, by a cache of classified documents that outline American and NATO war planning in Ukraine.
The briefing presentation slides, some of which are marked "top secret," include information such as estimated troop strengths, shipping schedules for weapons, and ammunition costs.
The documents first surfaced on social media earlier this week, and although the source is still unknown, the leaks have alarmed the Pentagon, which has launched an investigation to ascertain how the documents were obtained, according to a report in the New York Times on Thursday.
Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh told the publication, "We are aware of the reports of social media posts, and the department is reviewing the matter. Officials claimed they are working to have the content taken down from the internet, but as of Thursday night, they had not been successful.
The "Status of the Conflict as of 1 Mar." provided in one of the "top secret" documents suggests that the slides are more than a few weeks old. The documents provide a glimpse into US intelligence assessments for Russian and Ukrainian troop levels, timetables for training and equipment deliveries, weather data, as well as ammunition expenditures, including for the US-supplied HIMARS platform, even though they do not provide any specific battle plans.
Also Read: Quake victims in Antakya are sceptical of Erdogan's promises to rebuild
The rate at which Ukrainian forces are using the weapon's ammunition has not previously been made public by the Pentagon.
A few of the documents appear to have been altered, and the estimates for casualties on both sides of the conflict in the various online versions that are circulating show this.
Another document lists 12 new Ukrainian combat brigades, which typically have 4,000 to 5,000 soldiers, and notes that nine of them are receiving training and supplies from the US and NATO. Six of those would be completed by the end of March, according to the document, and the final three by April 30.
The documents, if true, would be one of the biggest intelligence lapses since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and would come as Kiev is reportedly getting ready to launch a significant counteroffensive against Russian forces.
Also Read: Following a rocket attack Israeli jets target Hamas in Lebanon and Gaza
Two potential entry points into the Donbass, Zaporozhye, and Kherson regions are shown in one of the documents. It is unknown when the counter-attacks will start, but Ukrainian Maj. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov recently asserted that a "final" and "decisive battle" between the two sides would take place in the spring.
