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How Bad is the US Intelligence Blackout for Ukraine?
When Trump announced the end of US military aid to Ukraine last week, it wasn’t like he was going to send in the US Army to collect its M1 Abrams — that hardware is, presumably, Ukraine’s to keep forever.
But the other side of the coin was the abrupt end of US intelligence sharing, which, as I’ve written about before, was the least publicized but perhaps most impactful aid Ukraine was receiving.
The end of that support was felt immediately. And now the world is realizing exactly what the US was giving Ukraine, because its absence is more destructive than losing a few F-16s or Bradleys.
The end of this intel is nothing short of catastrophic… Ukrainian leaders are already attributing the loss of intelligence to recent Russian gains in Kursk and approximately 10,000 Ukrainian troops who are at risk of being surrounded.
So, let’s break this down. How much did the US help Ukraine with intelligence? What does this sudden radio silence mean for the battlefield? And can Europe step up to fill the void? Spoiler alert: Russia is very, very happy right now.
The Shutdown: What We Know
The decision to cut intelligence sharing was confirmed last Wednesday, the same day CIA Director John Ratcliffe and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz…
