Leaked US documents cast doubt on Ukraine’s military capacity
- Files show the US has concerns about Kyiv’s ability to make big gains in a coming counteroffensive, and its capacity to keep defending against Russian strikes
- One document, the authenticity of which could not immediately be confirmed, predicts many Ukraine air defence systems could soon be out of ammunition
The US has serious concerns about Ukraine’s ability to make significant gains in a coming counteroffensive, as well as Kyiv’s capacity to keep defending against Russian strikes, according to a Tuesday report and documents reviewed by Agence France-Presse.
The documents are part of a trove of highly sensitive material that has been posted online, sparking a US criminal investigation into a breach the Pentagon says poses a “very serious” risk to national security.
Ukraine is expected to launch an attack on invading Russian troops in the spring – its first major military push of the year.
But one top secret document said tough Russian defences and “enduring Ukrainian deficiencies in training and munitions supplies probably will strain progress and exacerbate casualties during the offensive”, The Washington Post reported.
A document reviewed by AFP – this one marked “secret” – details the dire state of Ukrainian air defences, which have been instrumental in protecting against Russian strikes and preventing Moscow’s forces from gaining control of the skies.
Ukraine’s international supporters have worked to strengthen the country’s air defences, providing a mix of cutting edge and older technology to create multilayered defences that protect against attacks at different altitudes.