US tries to boost arms supply to Ukraine, prevent missile shortage – military expert Grant

British military expert, reserve colonel of the Army of His Royal Majesty King Charles III, Glen Grant said this on Espreso TV. 

According to him, the US intelligence leak revealed the issue of air defense, but it can be useful, because it highlighted the exhaustion of defense missiles in Ukraine. The expert believes that such information puts pressure on the international community to provide the Ukrainian Defense Forces with more air defense systems.

“I know that America is now trying to rush some air defense systems and missiles to Ukraine to make sure that what is mentioned in the intelligence report does not happen, that Ukraine runs out of missiles. So this may be a good result actually for this information having become public. The information doesn't give away how, where and when Ukraine will counter attack, and those are the key things that information is not in there. You can't guess it from there. 

You can only guess the level of readiness but again, that level of readiness has been made public by the British Ministry of Defense, Swedish Ministry of Defense, German Ministry of Defense and many other people talking about when their equipment will go to Ukraine, what training is taking place. So that's been public and there's nothing new in that. Ukraine can be fairly sure that Russia is not going to be able to take much from that report except for the air defense details, and that loophole will be closed,” Glen Grant emphasized. 

He added that in a broader context, the information leak is embarrassing for the United States, so maximum vigilance should be expected from them. Glen Grant noted that it is necessary to find the perpetrators and improve the security system.

• On April 6, The New York Times reported on the leak of classified documents detailing US and NATO plans to reinforce the Ukrainian army ahead of a planned counteroffensive. The Pentagon launched an investigation.

• Almost immediately, a new batch of classified documents appeared on social media, allegedly revealing US national security secrets regarding Ukraine, the Middle East, and China.

• Already on April 8, the Main Intelligence Directorate reported that the so-called classified military documents on the plans for the Ukrainian Armed Forces' offensive were in fact a forgery and a special operation by Russian special services. Russia could have forged the documents to disrupt Western aid to Ukraine.

• On April 9, investigative journalists from Bellingcat found out that the original source of the leaked classified Pentagon documents on the Ukrainian Armed Forces' counteroffensive was a Discord server. CNN reported that the Ukrainian military command changed some of its military plans after the leak of classified Pentagon documents online.

• Jack Teixeira, a US National Guard soldier suspected of disclosing classified Pentagon documents, has been formally charged. The man appeared before a federal judge in Boston wearing handcuffs and a prison robe.

• On April 14, US President Joe Biden ordered to strengthen the protection of classified information after an intelligence leak.

• Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that Kyiv and Washington remain united in preparing for a counteroffensive, despite the leak of classified documents.

• On April 15, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the leak of classified data did not affect US cooperation with allies.