In preparation for its counteroffensive against the Russian forces in the Kharkiv Region, Kyiv had stepped up intelligence-sharing with the US in order to gain more support and to obtain better and more relevant information about Russian weaknesses.
Although Ukrainian officials declined to expand on how deep the Americans have been involved in the planning of the Ukrainian counteroffensive and how much information has been shared between the sides, one of them claimed Washington and Kyiv have constantly discussed how to blunt the Russian advance in eastern Ukraine.
Concerned that might highlight its weaknesses and discourage continued American support, Ukrainian officials had until recently been reluctant to reveal operational plans to their US allies despite the information on Russian command posts, ammunition depots, and other targets that Washington provided them with.
Kyiv decide to share plans for its counteroffensive would during the summer which, contrary to previous concerns, has prompted the Biden administration to provide Ukrainian troops with even more intelligence and military assistance.
Unnamed senior US officials said that after Kyiv’s attempts to advance in other areas failed, it started its large-scale offensive in the north-eastern Kharkiv Region on Thursday with the weapons supplied by the US and other Western nations.
Even Kyiv’s decision to announce its counteroffensive in the south before striking in the northeast was a standard trick to mislead that has been used by the US special operations forces, which have been training Ukrainian troops since 2014, after the Russian annexation of Crimea Peninsula.
Russia’s Defense Ministry admitted on Saturday it is withdrawing its troops after it recognized the loss of the towns of Izyum and Balaklia in the Kharkiv region but claimed that these are being regrouped to build up efforts in the Donetsk direction.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine have already liberated 30 settlements while actively advancing in the Kharkiv region.
Be the first to comment