US intel threatened to halt data sharing with Ukrainian Embassy over refinery strikes - WP
Photo: US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
US intelligence warned Kyiv that intelligence sharing would be halted immediately if Ukraine continued attacking Russian energy facilities. The threat has not been carried out so far, but it remains in place, according to The Washington Post.
According to a source familiar with the matter, the threats were made on Monday, October 12. US intelligence officials informed the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington that any new strikes on Russia's energy infrastructure would result in a complete halt to intelligence sharing.
The warning was circulated so widely that nearly all Ukrainian officials involved in the matter received calls. Intelligence sharing has not been suspended yet, at least not completely, but the threat remains.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed in an interview with NPR that the Ukrainian military had received such threats, but they had not been carried out so far.
"We are helping them, and we are sharing intel. We want the war to end," US President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday.
Why were there no warnings about ballistic missiles?
According to the WP, these very threats caused confusion surrounding intelligence sharing. Zelenskyy said that for two nights in a row, partners had failed to warn Ukraine about ballistic missiles heading toward Kyiv.
Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat later clarified that no warning had been received only before the first wave of the attack on the night of October 14. During the next three waves, partners did share intelligence.
An EU diplomat in Kyiv told the outlet that both explanations were possible: Trump was putting pressure on Zelenskyy, or Kyiv wanted to show that intelligence sharing had been suspended. He noted that Ukrainian radars had missed ballistic missiles in the past as well.
Earlier, Zelenskyy hinted at "surprises" in relations with the United States. He promised to raise two key issues with the Americans, saying that the current situation was not appropriate for the level of partnership between the two countries.
Meanwhile, Russia continues to attack Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Despite the so-called energy truce announced by US President Donald Trump, Russian forces once again launched a massive attack on energy facilities with missiles and drones. Zelenskyy described the strike as Moscow's "blatant disrespect" toward the United States.
In addition, on the night of October 14, Starshield terminals on Ukrainian drones began maintaining connectivity only at speeds of up to 160 km/h. According to Zelenskyy, Russia took advantage of the connectivity problems and launched one of its largest-scale attacks on Ukraine.
