Ukraine called off anniversary attacks on Russia at US request: report" title="Ukraine called off anniversary attacks on Russia at US request: report" />

Ukraine’s military called off attacks planned for the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of the country after the United States called for the attacks not to take place, according to leaked documents.

Major General Kyrylo Budanov had drawn up plans for attacks on Russian targets well beyond the front lines of the conflict. Budanov hoped to carry out several attacks on Russian soil on February 24, the anniversary of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Moscow was a major target for Budanov’s plan, which worried the US, according to leaked Pentagon documents obtained by the Washington Post.

The documents show a February 22 CIA report that claimed Budanov’s team had postponed the Moscow attacks at the request of US officials.

The United States has long been concerned that attacks on Russian soil could prompt Putin to escalate the conflict in Ukraine. However, many in Ukraine are trying to strike their own blows.

PENTAGON LEADER SUSPECT SEARCHED FOR ‘LEAKER’ ON CLASSIFIED NETWORK AFTER LEARNING STORY: FBI

For its part, Russia stepped up missile attacks against Ukrainian targets in the week leading up to the February 24 anniversary. Iranian-made missiles and drones rained down on residential buildings in Kiev, as well as infrastructure targets.

The interaction’s reports of planned birthday attacks are just the latest revelation stemming from the leak of hundreds of classified documents on a Discord server. The United States has accused 21-year-old Jack Teixeira of the National Guard of leaking the documents.

Teixeira was arrested on April 13 following an FBI investigation into “the alleged unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defense information.” Teixeira, a cybersecurity officer in the Air National Guard, had the highest level of security clearance granted by the federal government for top secret information. He is accused of posting secret information about the Russian war effort to a private chat group on Discord, a social media messaging platform popular with gamers. The New York Times reported that the group, Thug Shaker Central, had about 50 members.

JUDGE DELAYS LEAK OF SUSPICIOUS DOCUMENTS AT JACK TEIXEIRA’S HEARING AFTER DEFENSE ASKED FOR MORE TIME

Teixeira has been charged with the unauthorized retention and transmission of classified national defense information. He could also face charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice as a result of being on active duty at the time of the alleged leaks.

Fox News’ Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.

Source link