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Ukraine planned attacks on Russian forces in Syria, leaked document reveals

Friday, 21 April 2023 11:22 AM [ Last Update: Friday, 21 April 2023 11:27 AM ]

Russian soldiers walk past a Russian military police armored vehicle at a position in the northeastern Syrian city Kobane on Oct. 23, 2019. (File photo by AFP)

The top-secret US intelligence document leaked recently reveals that Ukraine's military intelligence hatched plans to carry out covert attacks on Russian forces in Syria with the assistance of local Kurds.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky directed a halt to the plan in December, but the leaked document, based on intelligence gathered as of Jan. 23, details how such a campaign could proceed if Ukraine revived it, the Washington Post reported after obtaining the "top-secret" document.

While making the plan in December, Ukraine's military intelligence officers favored attacking Russian positions using UAVs or limiting strikes to Wagner group forces, the secret document disclosed.

Ukrainian forces were mulling over training operatives of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to attack Russian positions and carry out “unspecified ‘direct action’ activities along with UAV [unmanned aerial vehicle] attacks,” as per the document.

Meanwhile, the SDF in return for supporting Ukrainian operations, asked for training, air defense systems and a guarantee that its role would be kept secret, according to the document which also noted that the leadership of the SDF forbade attacks on Russian forces in Kurdish areas.

Leaked US documents cast doubt on Ukraine's military capacity

A batch of US classified documents leaked on social media shows Washington has serious concerns about Ukraine

This is one of the intelligence documents allegedly leaked to a Discord chatroom by Jack Teixeira, a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, who was later arrested.

The documents appear to have sensitive material about the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine that recently completed one year.

One top-secret document said tough Russian defenses and Ukrainian deficiencies in training and munitions supplies will probably exacerbate casualties during offensives by Ukraine.

Another secret document detailed the dire state of Ukrainian air defenses. The document said Kiev’s ability to provide air defenses that protect the front line will be completely reduced by May 23.

One top-secret document said tough Russian defenses and "enduring Ukrainian deficiencies in training and munitions supplies probably will strain progress and exacerbate casualties during the offensive," the Washington Post reported.

A "secret" document reviewed by AFP details the dire state of Ukrainian air defenses, which have been instrumental in protecting against Russian strikes and preventing Moscow's forces from gaining control of the skies.

The leaked documents also show Washington has been spying on its allies, including Kiev, Tel Aviv and Seoul.

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