Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi ordered 40,000 rockets to be shipped to Russia, while keeping the production and shipping secret to avoid the Western sanctions, an U.S. intelligence report said.
Ukraine’s military could fall “well short” of Kyiv’s goals for a spring counteroffensive as a result of difficulties massing troops, ammunition and equipment, a leaked US intelligence assessment has said.
The “top secret” file from early February, first reported by the Washington Post, warned that such an operation would only result in “modest territorial gains” and “force regeneration and sustainment shortfalls”.
Publicly, US president Joe Biden has spoken with confidence and optimism about the force of Ukraine’s military, saying in Poland in late February: “Ukraine is steeled for the fight ahead, and the United States, our allies and partners continue to have Ukraine’s back as it defends itself.”
The document indicated that the strategy from Kyiv revolves around reclaiming contested areas in the east while also pushing south in a bid to sever the land bridge between Russia and Crimea.
The strength of Russian defences coupled with “enduring Ukrainian deficiencies in training and munitions supplies probably will strain progress and exacerbate casualties during the offensive,” the file reads.
The Defense Department refused to address the contents of the leaked document.
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