Pentagon officials pushed back on reports that say the United States provided intelligence that helped the Ukrainian forces sink a Russian flagship in the Black Sea, claiming the focus was on defensive issues.
The officials said that the U.S. provides battlefield intelligence to help Ukrainians defend their country. During a press conference, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that the nation does not provide intelligence on the location of senior military leaders on the battlefield or participate in the targeting decisions of the Ukrainian military.
Pentagon Denies Misleading Reports
A day before the announcement, there were reports that information provided by senior American defense officials included real-time battlefield intelligence and anticipated Russian troop movements. The information included details about the Russian military's mobile headquarters and the whereabouts of senior Russian military leaders.
The situation comes as it is believed that at least 12 Russian generals have been killed amid the war between Russia and Ukraine. The unprovoked invasion began in February when Russian President Vladimir Putin put his plans to "denazify" Ukraine began, as per the Military Times.
The National Security Council spokesperson, Adrienne Watson, said on Thursday that the U.S. does provide battlefield intelligence to Ukraine. However, she noted that the previous reports framed the story in a misleading way. The official said the headline of the report was irresponsible.
On top of intelligence, the U.S. has been giving Ukraine roughly $3.7 billion in security assistance since the beginning of the war. The Pentagon has also ramped up its training of Ukrainian troops on artillery systems to better defend themselves against the Russian military.
According to the Washington Post, Ukraine's sinking of the Russian flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, the Moskva, was seen as one of the most dramatic battlefield successes of the war. Ukrainian forces launched a missile strike in April that deprived Moscow of a key vessel in its military campaign.
Ukraine's Sinking of Russian Flagship
The assistance from the United States underscores how deeply Washington has become involved in the fight against Russia's advance. While it was not immediately clear how many sailors were killed in the attack, American officials said there were most likely significant casualties.
U.S. authorities said that they had no prior knowledge of Ukraine targeting the Moskva despite providing intelligence about the vessel. Russian vessels in the black Sea have also been launching missiles of their own targeting Ukraine. The ships could be used for an amphibious assault on the country.
Several military analysts and experts have praised Ukraine's military and its strength and ingenuity in repelling a larger Russian force. Many believe that Moscow has much more advanced weaponry and is technically superior to its European neighbor.
Many believe that without help from the U.S., Ukraine would likely struggle to target the warship with the confidence necessary to expend two valuable Neptune missiles. The armaments are known to be in short supply and must be used sparingly.
United States President Joe Biden's administration has treated the issue of intelligence-sharing with Ukraine as extremely sensitive. But officials have been providing Ukraine with information regarding Moscow's battle plan for the fighting in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, the New York Times reported.
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