Ukraine 'withholding' counteroffensive information from allies as war with Russia rages on

Ukraine is withholding counteroffensive details with its allies in order to avoid getting any intelligence leaked related to upcoming spring counteroffensive expected to begin around May 15. Any information given to partners might risk getting compromised, and Ukrainian soldiers may suffer disvantages on battlefield, at least two European officials who have been in touch with  military officials in Kyiv, told Politico.

Kyiv is only focused on providing basic intelligence to US and or European countries who have been supplying arms to its forces ahe of spring assaults, but it is yet not inclined on divulging any information on ground battle planning. 

“re are only a few people in country that know plan,” a lawmaker in Europe was quoted as saying. 

'y don’t have an obligation': Kirby 

decision came in view of  recent leak of trove of classified material on gaming platform Discord by  Massachusetts-based Air Guardsman Jack Teixeira. information that Ukraine has been withholding from allies includes critical information linked to counteroffensive such as timing of attack, and figures of troops who will be involved in operation. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was reported claiming that United States told him nothing about leak of top-secret documents and that he learnt about disclosure from news "like everyone else."

Ukrainian soldiers prepare ir ammunition at frontline positions near Vuhledar, Donetsk region. Credit: AP

papers were marked “top secret” and came from  Defense Intelligence Agency, detailing that United States and NATO h plans to build up Ukraine's military even before conflict started with neighbouring Russia. It also depicted loopholes in Ukraine's military weaponry, military shortfalls, setbacks in air defense systems, and underscored American estimates of war casualties figures even before a confrontation began. documents, however, did not underline any battle-specific details such as regions where Ukraine planned to launch offensive but did claim prospects of a stalemate given lingering issues with Russia's own military and lack of weapons. 

“y don’t have an obligation to notify us or tell us in vance,” US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told  NatSec Daily, ding “oftentimes we certainly do have a sense because we’re in daily communication with m.”