UKRAINE: FT-US Cuts Off Intelligence Sharing w/Ukraine

The FT is reporting that the United States has cut off intelligence sharing with Ukraine in what would prove a major blow to Kyiv's ability to counter Russia's invasion and hit targets within the Russian Federation. FT: "US intelligence co-operation has been essential for Ukraine’s ability to identify and strike Russian military targets. Two officials confirmed that Washington had frozen intelligence channels with Kyiv. But one of the officials said the US was still sharing intelligence on Russia and Ukraine with its closest allies, including the UK."

• Late on 4 March, the Daily Mail reported that the UK had been barred from sharing some intelligence information with Ukraine. "...all UK intelligence agencies and military outlets also received an order expressly forbidding the sharing of US-generated intelligence, previously known as 'Rel UKR' - short for Releasable to Ukraine'...the Mail has learnt the top-level security classification has now been removed by the United States pending further notification...The ban affects the likes of the UK's GCHQ, the spy agencies and intelligence branches of the Ministry of Defence."
• On top of the halt in military and financial aid to Ukraine, the cutting off of intelligence provision will make it even harder for Ukrainian armed forces to resist Russia's advances in the Donbas, and for the country's defence apparatus to obstruct Russian missile and drone attacks on military, energy, and civilian infrastructure.