The Biden administration went on the defensive Wednesday after reports emerged that the United States has provided Ukraine with intelligence that helped it target Russian generals as the invasion progresses.
We will solve the drama. In addition, we will talk about why fears are growing that Russia may intensify attacks against Ukraine before May 9.
This is Defense and National Security, your late-night guide to the latest happenings at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. For The Hill, I’m Jordan Williams.
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Officials defend themselves by report
The Biden administration tried to set the record straight on Thursday after The New York Times reported that the United States provided Ukraine with intelligence that helped it attack Russian generals during the invasion of Moscow.
Where did this start: Senior administration officials told the New York Times on Wednesday that the United States has provided intelligence to Ukraine’s military and that it has been used to help kill Russian generals who have been killed during the ongoing war in the country.
While not specifying how many Russian generals have been killed thanks to US assistance, the sources told the newspaper the information was part of a classified program that aims to help Ukrainians provide information in real time. Ukraine claims that it has killed 12 Russian generals.
The Times reported that Ukrainian officials combined US location details plus their own intelligence to carry out attacks that helped kill members of Russian forces.
The White House Perspective: When asked about the report, National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson acknowledged that the United States shares intelligence with Ukraine, but criticized the Times for the way it framed her story.
“The headline of this story is misleading and the way it is framed is irresponsible,” Watson said. “The United States provides battlefield intelligence to help Ukrainians defend their country. We do not provide intelligence with the intent to kill Russian generals.”
Pentagon weighs: Without directly criticizing the story, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby later told reporters that the United States is providing intelligence to help Ukraine.
Kirby declined to elaborate from the podium. However, he added that Ukraine can also collect its own intelligence and that it receives intelligence from partners other than the US.
“Ukraine combines the information that we and other partners provide with the intelligence that they themselves are collecting, and then they make their own decisions and take their own actions,” he said.
Multiple generals killed: Ukrainian forces have killed several Russian army generals during the ongoing conflict between the two countries, which began on February 24.
More recently, Russian authorities confirmed the death of 8th Army commander Major General Vladimir Petrovich Frolov last month, saying he was killed during infighting with Ukrainian troops, and Saint Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov quoted the late general as a hero.
Austin meets with South Korea’s defense chief
Secretary of Defense lloyd austin held a phone call with South Korean National Defense Minister Suh Wook, the Pentagon said on Thursday.
The call comes several weeks before President Biden’s scheduled visit to South Korea.
What the leaders discussed: The leaders discussed North Korea’s recent ballistic missile launch, which they say “threatens the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region,” according to a read of the Pentagon call.
The US Indo-Pacific Command confirmed the launch, which took place on Wednesday.
“The secretary reaffirmed the strong US commitment to the defense of the ROK, leveraging the full range of US military capabilities, to include extended deterrence capabilities,” the readout said.
Upcoming trips: The phone call comes ahead of President Biden’s planned visit to South Korea and Japan on May 20-24.
That trip will come a week after he hosts a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Washington, DC.
During that trip, Biden is expected to meet with newly elected South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Why fears are rising ahead of May 9
Western officials speculated that Russia victory day May 9 could see the escalation of the country’s assault on Ukraine.
Russia honors May 9 as the day the Soviet Union defeated Nazi Germany in 1945, and the Soviet Union lost more than 24 million people during World War II.
Russia marks the day with military parades, festivals and fireworks, but some fear the country will use the national holiday this year to step up attacks on Ukraine.
Officials say Russian President Vladimir Putin could declare official war against Ukraine, after previously referring to the invasion only as a “special military operation.”
“I think he will try to walk away from his ‘special operation,’” British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace told LBC Radio earlier. “He’s been rolling the pitch, laying the groundwork to be able to say, ‘Look, this is now a war against the Nazis, and what I need is more people. I need more Russian cannon fodder.’”
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ON TAP TOMORROW
- The Atlantic Council will host a discussion on “Is Humanitarian Assistance Coming to Ukraine?” At 10 am
- The Reagan Foundation will host a virtual event titled “Linking Resources to Strategy: A Discussion on the National Defense Strategy and the FY23 Budget” at 10 a.m.
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