Pentagon, investigation into suspected secret documents concerning Ukraine

Mykhailo Podoliak told Reuters news agency that the data stemming from the New York Times paper contained a huge “sassy of fabricated information” and that Russia is trying to regain control of its offensive to Ukraine.

These are standard elements of operational games from Russian intelligence. Nothing more”, he said through a statement.

Reuters news agency said it was unable to immediately analyse the leaked documents.

The New York Times reported on Thursday that the Pentagon is investigating how these documents allegedly detailing plans to prepare the Ukrainian Army for a planned offensive were published in social media this week.

“We are aware of reports of posts in social media and the department is looking into the matter”, said Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh.

For his part, Mr. Podolyak sees these developments as a Russia attempt to gain ground in Ukraine:

“They are trying to influence the scenarios of Ukraine's counterattacking plans. To raise doubts, compromise ideas and finally scare us with the idea of how many informed ones are they”.

Ukrainian troops have been facing a Russian attack east of the country for months, focusing around the city of Bakhmut. Ukraine hopes to launch a counteroffensive in the coming weeks or months to regain territories occupied by Russia.

The New York Times report says the documents seemed to have been modified in certain parts. Part of the documents offered an assessment of Ukrainian military losses that were much higher than Western estimates available so far.

Ukraine does not publish the levels of its losses and is very sensitive to the issue.