The disclosure of numerous U.S. military documents has again strained relations with trusted allies. Washington continues to share, with its closest partners, a window into American intelligence assessments on hot topics such as the Ukraine war, military aid to Kyiv, and Russia’s actions that have sparked protests in Israel. Most documents were prepared in February and March of the same year and targeted at the political leadership within the Pentagon and intelligence communities. Some notes carry top secret markings or other classifications like NOFORN, indicating restrictions on sharing with foreign partners.
The first documents began surfacing in mid-January. The leak was traced to a social platform popular with gamers, according to the investigative outlet Bellingcat. They then appeared in private channels before moving to widely used platforms like Twitter and Telegram. Reports from international media indicate printouts may have been folded before being photographed and uploaded. While organizations such as the Associated Press and CNN have analyzed portions of the material, the exact total number of leaked documents remains unclear, and some platforms reportedly removed portions of the data. Several key disclosures are summarized below.
NATO Special Forces in Ukraine
What had long been a subject of rumor is now supported by the leaked documents: Russian authorities kept a limited but real presence of NATO special forces inside Ukraine. The review by BBC sources indicates the United Kingdom deployed the most such forces among NATO members, followed by Latvia, France, the United States, and the Netherlands. The British Ministry of Defense acknowledged the documents referenced serious errors in the handling of sensitive material.
Zelensky’s Considerations on Attacking Russian Territory
One document, cited by CNN, reports that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during a critical interruption in communications, entertained the option of striking Russian detachments in the Rostov region with drones due to Kyiv’s limited long-range capabilities. This revelation may shed light on the hesitancy seen in providing long-range missiles to Ukraine. Despite numerous drone and missile incidents on Russian soil since the war began, Kyiv has either declined to confirm or deny responsibility in line with typical state practice when sensitive details are involved.
Doubts About Ukrainian Military Capability
A February document classified as top secret suggests Ukraine faces restrictions in manpower, ammunition, and equipment anticipated for a spring counteroffensive. The assessment indicates the operation could yield only modest regional gains, as reported by respected outlets. The strategy reportedly aims to reclaim eastern Donbas territories and push south to disrupt the corridor linking Crimea with areas under occupation. Russian defense strengths and other shortcomings are noted as limiting factors. Kyiv has rejected the leaked material as not reflecting actual plans and stated it does not rely on such reports to dictate its strategy.
Stopping Russian Attack Plans
The leaked material indicates U.S. intelligence surveillance extended into Russian defense communications, enabling visibility into plans for strikes against electrical infrastructure and rail links. The reports also touch on how Russian plans might adapt as NATO-provided long-range missiles and support arrive. They describe a multi-tiered framework for potential attack zones ordered by distance and specify the types of weapons and units expected for each scenario.
China, Russia, and NATO
Another assessment notes that China could leverage Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory to present NATO as an aggressor while increasing its own aid to Russia if the attacks appear significant, according to coverage attributed to the Guardian. The framing underscores the complex interplay among major powers as the conflict continues to unfold.
Military Aid from Egypt to Russia
Egypt emerges as a notable recipient of sustained U.S. military assistance since the Camp David era, with billions provided over the years. A document reportedly indicates that Egyptian leadership considered channeling aid to Russia and authorized subordinates to prepare large-scale weapons transfers covertly. An official statement from Cairo has clarified that Egypt does not intend to take sides in the conflict, reaffirming a position of strategic autonomy in a volatile regional landscape.
Mossad and Protests Against Netanyahu’s Judicial Reform
An unexpected element of the leak alleges a CIA document describing Israeli intelligence support for protests opposing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s judicial reforms aimed at curbing judicial independence. The report claims Mossad leadership encouraged subordinates and the public to back mobilizations against the reform. Tel Aviv has denied these allegations, emphasizing normal policy channels and lawful civic engagement.