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The Pentagon is investigating the leak of classified war documents about secret American and Nato plans for aiding the Ukrainian military ahead of the anticipated spring counteroffensive against Russian forces, senior officials said.
The significant breach of American intelligence appears to detail Washington’s plans for supporting and resupplying Ukraine, as well as previously unpublished details of the ongoing frontline situation.
The five-weeks-old documents reportedly reveal details of Ukraine’s requirements ahead of a planned counteroffensive to reclaim territory taken by Russia since the full-scale invasion last year, as well as how the US and Nato might meet them.
This comes as French president Emmanuel Macron has urged his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to bring Russia “back to its senses” over its war in Ukraine.
On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces are using their counteroffensive abilities in Bakhmut to bleed Russian forces and inflict the maximum losses possible in a dogged defence operation, as they wait for the sludgy terrain to clear and make way for an expected spring assault.
Pentagon investigating leak of secret US and Nato war plans for Ukraine
The Biden administration is investigating the leak of classified war documents about secret American and Nato plans for bolstering the Ukrainian military ahead of an anticipated spring salvo against Russian forces, senior officials said.
“We are aware of the reports of social media posts and the department is reviewing the matter,” said Sabrina Singh, the deputy press secretary at the Pentagon, reported The New York Times.
The five-weeks-old documents reportedly reveal details of Ukraine’s requirements ahead of a planned counteroffensive to reclaim territory taken by Russia since the full-scale invasion last year, as well as how the US and Nato might meet them.
Russia seizes Bakhmutka River's west bank, says UK defence ministry
Russia has seized the west bank of the Bakhmutka River, endangering a key Ukraine supply route, in its push to regain control of the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut, the British defence ministry said on Friday.
“Russia has made further gains and has now highly likely advanced into the town centre ... Ukraine‘s key 0506 supply route to the west of the town is likely severely threatened,” the ministry said on Twitter in a regular bulletin.
Russia 'has regained momentum' in Bakhmut, says MoD
Russian forces have regained some momentum in the battle for Bakhmut in recent days after their advance was largely stalled since late last month, the British defence ministry has said today.
“Russia has made further gains and has now highly likely advanced into the town centre, and has seized the west bank of the Bakhmutka River. Ukraine’s key 0506 supply route to the west of the town is likely severely threatened,” the MoD said in its latest intelligence update.
“Russian regular forces, likely including airborne troops, have probably reinforced the area, and Russia is again using artillery more effectively in the sector,” the MoD said.
It added that there was a realistic possibility that Wagner and Russian military commanders had paused their ongoing feud and improved cooperation.
In pictures: Ukrainian forces fire a 120mm mortar towards Russian positions in Donetsk
Street battles in Bakhmut as Wagner says fighting continues in western pocket
The months-long battle for Bakhmut has continued to flare up in the salt-mining city this week.
“(Battles) are underway in the streets, enemy attempts to encircle the city are failing. Our command fully control the situation,” said Andriy Yermak, a senior adviser to Volodymyr Zelensky said.
The leader of Russia’s private Wagner militia, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said fighting was continuing in the west of the city.
“It must be said clearly that the enemy is not going anywhere,” he said on his Telegram channel.
The Wagner chief has often complained of a lack of ammunition for his fighters in Bakhmut but there are signs of revival of ammunition supply to the mercenary group.
But Ukrainian border guard Levko Stek, speaking in a video clip amid explosions, said Ukrainian forces did not sense any “ammunition hunger” on the Russian side.
Russian media mocks Trump over arrest days after he defended Putin: ‘We’re getting lots of popcorn!’
Donald Trump’s indictment in New York City has been met with ridicule by state TV in Russia, where hosts have enjoyed themselves by showcasing artwork depicting the former president wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and speculating about future jail time.
Mr Trump appeared at Manhattan Criminal Courthouse on Tuesday afternoon to plead not guilty to 34 felony charges relating to the falsification of business records to conceal a series of hush money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels, Playboy model Karen McDougal and a former Trump Tower doorman on his behalf in exchange for their silence about his alleged extramarital affairs.
Joe Sommerlad reports:
Watch: Defecting Russian protection officer labels Vladimir Putin 'war criminal'
Bakhmut grinds on as Ukrainian forces wait for mud to clear
The Ukrainian forces are using their counteroffensive abilities in Bakhmut to bleed Russian forces and inflict maximum losses possible in a dogged defence as they wait for the sludgy terrain to clear and make way for an expected spring assault.
“Bakhmut is performing the key task of inflicting as many losses on Russia as possible and, most importantly, to prepare for a counter-attack to take place in late April-May,” Pavlo Narozhniy, a Ukrainian military analyst, told NV Radio.
Even as Western analysts play down the strategic significance of Bakhmut, the Ukrainian side has persisted with protecting the town despite its own heavy casualties.
A 21-year-old commander outside Bakhmut said: “We are ready, we have to do it, the sooner the better. The enemy must be chased away. At the moment we are waiting for the weather to change, the mud is an obstacle.”
Speaking from close to the frontline, the commander of Ukraine‘s 5th separate assault brigade, who gave his name as Ivan, said: “Those service members that are not on the frontline are training.”
Ukrainian military expert Vladyslav Selezniov said Ukraine would be able to defend positions in the more heavily built-up west of Bakhmut as long as their route to the west, the “road of life” for getting supplies in and wounded out, remained open.
Russia has defended its “special military operation” in Ukraine by claiming it was necessary to protect its security against what it sees as a hostile and aggressive West.
ICYMI: Putin ‘sacks one of Russia’s most senior commanders in Ukraine’
The Russian ministry of defence has reportedly fired Colonel-General Rustam Muradov as commander of the Eastern Group of Forces (EGF) after Moscow’s heavy losses in eastern Ukraine.
The British defence ministry had cited claims on Russian social media in its latest intelligence update on Thursday and pointed out that it is the most high-profile dismissal in the Russian military so far this year.
The ministry said more dismissals are likely to follow as Russia continues to fail to achieve its objectives in the Donbas.
My colleague Arpan Rai has the details:
Russia’s refusal to give consular access to WSJ reporter is ‘inexcusable’, says US
The White House has called Russia’s refusal to give consular access to detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich “inexcusable”.
“We need to get consular access to Evan,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in a White House briefing last night.
On being asked why Russia is refusing the journalist consular access, Mr Kirby said: “We still haven’t been able to get consular access. And that’s a — that’s an issue that we continually bring up through our — our embassy in Moscow with the Russians”.
On being asked about a potential prisoner swap with Russia, Mr Kirby said that the situation is at a “very early stage” right now.
“I won’t get ahead of where we are. And I think you can understand why we would certainly not want to talk about potential negotiations here from the podium. We’re at a very early stage here,” he said.
He added: “Main goal is to get consular access to him so we can have that contact and that connectivity — we’re — and doing what we can to keep him his employer and the family informed. Our focus is squarely on that right now.”
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2023-04-07 04:00:00Z
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