During the operation to destroy the Russian cruiser Moskva with Neptune missiles in the Black Sea, the Ukrainian side received intelligence information from the United States.
This was reported to the TV channel CNN U.S. defense sources familiar with the situation.
“Ukrainian forces, noticing a Russian warship in the Black Sea, contacted their American contacts to confirm that it was in fact the Moskva cruiser. The American side replied that this was the ship and provided intelligence on its whereabouts,” sources said.
At the same time, it is not specified whether the United States knew at that moment that the Ukrainian side was preparing a strike on the cruiser. As the interlocutors emphasized, the Armed Forces of Ukraine made the decision on this on their own, the United States was not involved in it.
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The episode reflects the Biden administration’s growing stance when it comes to intelligence sharing with Ukraine. But it also raises questions about what red lines are for the US and Russia when it comes to US military support for Ukraine.
However, there are clear boundaries to what the U.S. shares, multiple sources said.
For example, the United States has so far refused to provide Ukraine with information about potential targets within Russia itself. And while US intelligence on Russian troop movements in Ukraine may include details such as vehicles and types of personnel at a particular location, the US has not provided Ukraine with intelligence on the whereabouts of specific Russian military leaders, officials said.
“We do not provide intelligence on the location of top military leaders on the battlefield and do not take part in decisions regarding the targeting of the Ukrainian military,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.
As you know, April 14 in the Black Sea sank missile cruiser “Moskva” – the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that the cruiser was hit by two Ukrainian-made Neptune-type anti-ship missiles. Russia denied this fact, but the Pentagon subsequently confirmed the information of the Ukrainian side.
