…Researched and contributed by Solomon Thomas.
A new batch of leaked documents, separate from the 53 pages of alleged classified US intelligence previously reported, reveal that Moscow’s government agencies are in greater turmoil than previously believed.
The documents claim that the Russian government is divided over the number of casualties its armies have suffered in Ukraine.
The leak of 27 pages of documents also suggests that the breach of American intelligence agencies could contain even more material than has already been released.
The documents indicate that US spy agencies have penetrated Vladimir Putin’s intelligence network and command.
According to the New York Times, which has seen the new 27 documents, Russia’s domestic intelligence agency has accused the Russian armed forces of obscuring the true scale of casualties suffered in Ukraine.
One document dated February 28 reveals that American intelligence officials said Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has ‘accused’ Russia’s Defense Ministry ‘of obfuscating Russian casualties in Ukraine.’
The officials say that this highlights ‘the continuing reluctance of military officials to convey bad news up the chain of command,’ appearing to confirm previous reports that many in Moscow are too afraid to give Putin the full picture of his faltering war effort, which began when he ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Another document gives new details on the dispute between Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of Wagner Private Military Company, and Russia’s Defense Ministry.
Prigozhin accused Russian military officials of withholding ammunition from his mercenaries as they fought to seize the city of Bakhmut.
One of the documents reports Putin invited Prigozhin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to a meeting in Moscow on February 22 in an attempt to settle the dispute, according to the New York Times.
The documents highlight many of the reasons why Putin’s almost 14-month invasion of Ukraine has so far failed to achieve any of its original objectives – or many of its amended ones.
The documents suggest that the US believes UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is too willing to accommodate Russian interests.
They show that US intelligence has been closely monitoring Guterres, and detail private communication between him and his deputy.
It is concerning to see the scale of infighting within Moscow’s government agencies over the Russian losses in Ukraine.
The revelations from the leaked documents are likely to increase the pressure on Putin and the Kremlin. The documents also demonstrate the scale of intelligence penetration by US spy agencies into Putin’s command network.
It is critical that sensitive intelligence information is protected to avoid any unintended consequences, such as a full-scale escalation leading to nuclear war.