Investigation launched into Ukraine war ‘leaked secret plan’ | World News

Some parts of the documents appeared to have been redacted, which could indicate an attempt by Moscow to spread disinformation, military analysts said.

Secret documents revealing efforts by the United States, Britain and other NATO allies to bolster Ukrainian forces ahead of a new offensive against Russian forces appear to have been leaked online.

The U.S. Department of Defense is investigating who was responsible for a potentially damaging leak showing the Twitter and Telegram.

The New York Times, which first reported the leak, cited military analysts as saying parts of the documents appeared to have been redacted, which could indicate Moscow Spread false information.

Wall Street Journal reporter Yaroslav Trofimov said Russian Publicity outlets appear to have Photoshopped at least one file after the original was released.

Ukraine war – The Latest: Russia makes ‘further progress’ in Bakhmut after advance stalls

Mr. Trofimov stated that, Ukraine Casualties and equipment losses were recorded, and Russian combat losses were significantly reduced.

Ukrainian presidential official Mykhailo Podolyak said the leak looked like a Russian disinformation operation, saying it contained “a lot of disinformation”.

The act of stealing secret documents and leaking them, with or without modification, is a long-standing weapon of information warfare designed to undermine an adversary.

Russia would benefit if information about Ukraine’s combat plans and Western support leaked online.

The classified documents – including one marked “top secret” and another marked “confidential” – dated in late February and early March.

They did not disclose specific dates or details of Ukraine’s expected spring offensive in the east and south of the country.

But they do offer clues about the types of military formations that the Western allies are helping their Ukrainian partners build.

Leaked plans were widely shared

The New York Times said U.S. officials were trying to have the documents removed from the social media site.

However, the leaked version was still widely circulated as of Friday morning.

Russian forces have made further inroads in embattled Bakhmut and now Ukraine’s supply lines are “severely threatened”, according to British intelligence.

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The eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut has been a battlefield for several months of fierce fighting, and both sides have suffered heavy losses, which can be called a “meat grinder”.

The UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) said in its latest Defense Intelligence update that the Russian advance had largely stalled since late March, but that it had now “probably advanced into the city center and captured the west bank of the Bakhmuta” .

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As a result, Ukraine’s main supply line to the west of the town is threatened, which could hamper their fight.

“Russian regular forces, possibly including airborne forces, may have reinforced the area, and Russia is again using artillery more effectively in the area,” the ministry added.

One of the reasons for this “regained momentum” was that Wagnerian mercenary fighters and Russian commanders “suspended their ongoing feud” and began to cooperate, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces said on Friday that it had repelled more than 40 “enemy attacks” in the past 24 hours.

Russia fired 53 rockets, five missiles and 18 airstrikes across the country, according to the department that oversees the combat management of Kiev’s forces.

It added that Moscow continued to focus its efforts on Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdivka and Marinka, all of which are located in the eastern Donetsk region.