British Commandos & CIA in Ukraine
- WIESBADEN, Germany (AP) — A covert network of Western military commanders orchestrated Ukraine's defense against Russia, according to a recent investigation.
- Shortly after the war began, two Ukrainian generals, escorted by armed guards and carrying diplomatic passports, were taken through Poland and Germany.
- The nerve center of this operation was established two months into the war at Clay Caserni, the U.S.
Western Allies Orchestrated Ukraine’s Defense, Report Reveals
WIESBADEN, Germany (AP) — A covert network of Western military commanders orchestrated Ukraine’s defense against Russia, according to a recent investigation. The operation, which involved transporting Ukrainian generals to a secure military hall, highlights the extent of Western involvement in the conflict.
Secret Meetings and CIA Involvement
Shortly after the war began, two Ukrainian generals, escorted by armed guards and carrying diplomatic passports, were taken through Poland and Germany. Their destination: a clandestine operation,supported by the CIA,designed to shift the balance of power in the conflict against Vladimir Putin’s forces.
The Clay Caserni War Room
The nerve center of this operation was established two months into the war at Clay Caserni, the U.S. Army Headquarters for Europe and Africa in Wiesbaden, Germany. This facility became the hub for coordinating Western military assistance to Ukraine.
Extent of Western Support
The details of this support, revealed in an extensive investigation, raise critical questions about the depth of involvement by the United States, the United Kingdom, and other Western nations in the Ukraine war. While reports of Western intelligence sharing and military planning have surfaced sporadically, the true level of cooperation remained largely unknown until now.
Kremlin’s Concerns Validated?
These revelations are likely to fuel anger in the Kremlin, which has long maintained that Russia is fighting a proxy war against the West and NATO through Ukraine. The disclosed details could be interpreted as confirmation of these long-held suspicions.
Shifting U.S. Policy
The new U.S. administration has reportedly begun scaling back some elements of this assistance, a move that has sparked concern among Ukrainians about their country’s future prospects in the ongoing conflict.
Inside the Operation
The investigation, based on 300 interviews with government, military, and intelligence sources across nine countries in the U.S. and Europe, reveals that the U.S. provided a wide array of resources,including weapons,intelligence,strategic guidance,and planning support. The British military, simultaneously occurring, managed the logistics center at Clay Caserni.
British Influence
Unlike the U.S., the UK maintained small teams of officers within Ukraine, granting British military planners a comparatively greater degree of influence on the ground, according to the investigation.
Disagreements Over Strategy
Sources indicate that Ben Wallace, then the UK Defense Minister, allegedly ordered the dismissal of Major General Andri Kovalchuk for failing to launch an attack when Russian forces appeared vulnerable near Kherson. The Ukrainian commander reportedly hesitated to initiate an offensive against Russian soldiers facing shortages of food and ammunition on the western bank of the Dnieper River.
CIA Presence
While the Biden administration withdrew most “boots on the ground” before the invasion and closed the embassy, a small team of CIA operatives was authorized to remain in Ukraine, the report notes.
Intelligence Sharing
In Wiesbaden, other CIA personnel assisted in planning an intelligence-sharing campaign that facilitated precise strikes on key Russian targets, initially in occupied territory and later within Russia itself.
Geopolitical Balancing Act
The investigation highlights the complex geopolitical balancing act that the U.S. and the UK navigated, given concerns that deeper involvement could provoke Russia, potentially leading to nuclear escalation or attacks elsewhere.
Evolving War Strategy
As the war progressed, the U.S.and the UK became more deeply entrenched in the conflict. By mid-2024, U.S. and British officers were reportedly involved in nearly every aspect of specific operations in Crimea, from target identification to calculating missile trajectories.
Operation Lunar Hail
According to reports,the U.S. proposed “Operation Lunar Hail” to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenski. This large-scale bombing campaign aimed to force Russia to withdraw its military infrastructure from Crimea, potentially marking a significant strategic victory for Ukraine.
Kerch Strait Bridge
British authorities also collaborated with Ukraine on plans to strike the bridge across the Kerch Strait, a vital link connecting Crimea to mainland Russia and a potent symbol of Putin’s connection to the peninsula.
Red Lines and escalation
Initially, the Kerch Strait Bridge was considered a red line by the U.S. Targeting the bridge was viewed as a potential escalation that could provoke a counterattack against U.S. interests, as Russia considers Crimea its own territory.
Shifting Risk Tolerance
The Kerch Strait Bridge example illustrates how the U.S. and the UK gradually increased their risk tolerance throughout the conflict, according to the investigation.
Tensions and Demands
Relations between Ukraine and its Western allies were not always smooth.Ukraine frequently requested more weapons and equipment,while some in Washington considered certain demands unreasonable.
Manpower Concerns
Some officials in Washington also felt that Ukraine was not doing enough to mobilize all available manpower for the front lines, even after Kyiv lowered the conscription age to 25.
Zelenski’s Rebuttal
Reportedly, President Zelenski pushed back against then-U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, arguing that more personnel woudl not improve military efforts without sufficient weaponry to equip them.
Communication Gaps
The investigation also points to U.S. frustration with a lack of transparency from the Ukrainian side.
Sinking of the Moskva
In April 2022, weeks before a key meeting in Germany between Ukrainian and American officers, the Americans identified the Russian missile cruiser Moskva, the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, during a routine intelligence briefing.This information enabled Ukraine to sink the ship.
Aftermath of the Moskva Sinking
While the sinking of the Moskva demonstrated Ukraine’s military capabilities and marked an early victory,the U.S. was reportedly angered by not being informed in advance and by what they perceived as Kyiv’s willingness to strike Russia so aggressively.
Cross-Border Raids
Two years later, in March 2024, U.S. intelligence revealed that Ukrainian military intelligence was planning a land operation in southwestern Russia without informing Washington.
U.S. Warning
Upon learning of the planned operation, the U.S. warned its Ukrainian counterparts that the mission would proceed without american support.
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
These incidents led to cynical jokes within the Biden administration, with some suggesting they knew more about russian plans through their own espionage efforts than they did about Ukrainian intentions, according to the report.
“‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ was better than asking and being stopped” for Ukrainians, said Lieutenant General Valery Condratuk, former commander of Ukrainian military intelligence. “We are allies,but we have different goals. We defend our country, and you protect your phantom fears from the Cold War.”
Here’s a Q&A based on the article, structured for clarity, SEO, and potential featured snippets:
Western Allies’ Orchestration of Ukraine’s Defense: Key Questions Answered
What does the report reveal about Western involvement in Ukraine’s defense?
The report reveals a covert network of Western military commanders coordinated Ukraine’s defense against Russia.This involved extensive cooperation, including:
Providing weapons and intelligence.
Offering strategic guidance and planning support.
Establishing a ”nerve center” at Clay Caserni in Wiesbaden, Germany, to coordinate aid.
Direct involvement in specific operations,including target identification and missile trajectory calculations,especially by mid-2024.
What was the role of the U.S. and UK in supporting Ukraine?
The U.S.provided a wide range of resources, including weapons, intelligence, strategic guidance, and planning support. The UK played a crucial role by managing the logistics center at clay Caserni and had teams of officers within Ukraine, giving them a greater degree of influence on the ground.
Where was the main hub for coordinating Western military assistance to Ukraine?
The main hub was at Clay Caserni, the U.S. Army Headquarters for europe and africa in Wiesbaden, Germany. This facility became the central point for coordinating the U.S. and UK involvement.
How did the CIA contribute to the operation?
The CIA was involved in multiple aspects:
Facilitating transport of Ukrainian generals to secure meeting locations.
Assisting in the planning of an intelligence-sharing campaign for precision strikes on Russian targets.
A limited team remained on the ground after most “boots on the ground” were withdrawn.
what impact did the sinking of the Moskva have?
The sinking of the Moskva, the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, demonstrated ukraine’s military capabilities and an early victory. However, the U.S. was reportedly angered by not being informed in advance.
Did disagreements arise between Ukraine and its Western allies?
Yes, disagreements certainly occurred. These included:
Ukraine frequently requesting more weapons and equipment.
Some in Washington felt Ukraine wasn’t mobilizing enough manpower.
U.S. frustration over perceived lack of transparency from the Ukrainian side.
What strategies were employed against Russian targets?
The U.S. and the UK developed detailed plans and provided the support needed to conduct the strikes on key Russian targets, including:
Precise targeting: Intelligence sharing facilitated pinpoint strikes.
Kerch strait Bridge: The UK and Ukraine collaborated plans to strike this bridge, which became a highly debated issue.
What influence did the UK have on the ground?
The UK maintained small teams of officers inside Ukraine, giving British military planners comparatively greater influence on the ground than their U.S. counterparts.
What is “Operation Lunar Hail”?
“Operation Lunar Hail” was a U.S.proposal to ukrainian President Zelensky. It was a large-scale bombing campaign aimed at forcing Russia to withdraw military infrastructure from Crimea.
Who were the key figures involved in the operation?
While not explicitly naming the key commanders, the article mentions figures like:
General Andri Kovalchuk: Ukrainian commander who hesitated to launch an attack near Kherson.
ben Wallace: Then UK Defense Minister.
President Zelensky: Recipient of Operation Lunar Hail proposal.
Lloyd Austin: Then-U.S. Secretary of Defense.
How did the U.S. and UK’s risk tolerance evolve during the conflict?
The U.S. and the UK’s risk tolerance increased. The Kerch Strait Bridge, initially considered a “red line,” exemplifies this shift. targeting the bridge presented potential risks of escalation with Russia.
What were the concerns surrounding potential escalation?
The primary concern was the potential for a Russian counterattack against U.S. interests (and potential NATO allies) in response to deeper Western involvement, possibly leading to nuclear escalation.