The US Department of Defense is investigating the appearance of classified material on social media, detailing Washington’s and NATO’s plans to strengthen the Ukrainian military. The documents, dating from early March, contain detailed information on anticipated arms deliveries and troop and battalion strengths, among other plans, and are believed to have been distributed by pro-government Russian channels on Twitter and Telegram. The postings represent a significant breach of US intelligence, so officials in Washington are working to remove the documents from social media. Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed that the Defense Department is looking into the matter.
The documents also contain information never before disclosed by the Pentagon, including the rate of spending on US-supplied ammunition to Ukraine and details on the training of 12 Ukrainian brigades, nine of which are being trained and supplied by the US and other NATO allies. According to the documents, six of these nine brigades are expected to be ready by March 31 and the rest by April 30. In addition, the need for more than 250 tanks and 350 BMPs for these formations is cited. One of the documents, labeled “top secret,” describes the “State of the Conflict as of March 1.” On that day, Ukrainian officers were in Germany at the US base in Wiesbaden.
The Pentagon is taking steps to ensure that classified information is not publicly disclosed and to protect the national security of the United States and its allies. The ongoing investigation and actions taken demonstrate the importance the US government places on the security and protection of its classified information and the international alliances that help maintain stability and security around the world.