Western intelligence crucial for Kiev's strategy in Russia – US intelligence leader
American NGA spy chief Frank Whitworth states that Ukraine utilized Western intelligence when planning its incursion into the Kursk Region. Read Full Article at RT.com
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Ukraine has been utilizing a substantial range of commercial satellite imagery to plan and carry out its incursion into Russia's Kursk Region, a top US intelligence official has confirmed. Despite these revelations, the US continues to deny foreknowledge of the operation.
Vice Admiral Frank Whitworth, the head of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), spoke about a recent article from The New York Times, which claimed that both the US and UK have supplied Ukraine with satellite imagery and other details concerning the Kursk Region. This disclosure came after the commencement of the operation, wherein Ukraine advanced thousands of heavily armed troops into the territory.
The New York Times indicated that the intelligence was shared not to assist Ukraine in advancing further into Russian territory but to enable Ukrainian commanders to monitor potential Russian reinforcements that could threaten their forces or obstruct their return to Ukraine.
Whitworth pointed out that the Times was likely referring to commercial satellite imagery available through the Global Enhanced GEOINT Delivery (G-EGD) program operated by Maxar, a practice that the US has supported for an extended period.
"There were over 400,000 accounts in that particular portal. And so the availability of commercial imagery is sustained," Whitworth stated during a panel hosted by the Intelligence and National Security Alliance.
"If that is what they are using for purposes of this particular campaign, this limited campaign in Kursk, then I’ll defer to them to confirm that. But the availability is always there," he further added.
In the same panel, CIA Deputy Director David Cohen mentioned that following discussions with Ukrainian officials, there appears to be a strategy to retain some of the captured Russian territory temporarily.
The panel also touched on the broader strategy of the US government to increasingly incorporate commercial technologies to enhance its intelligence and military operations.
READ MORE: UK supports Ukraine's use of long-range missiles inside Russia, according to reports
The involvement of the US and its NATO allies in Ukrainian operations has led Moscow to view the conflict as a proxy war led by the US, where Ukraine acts almost as a private military firm advancing US interests. Russian officials assert that such involvement directly implicates these nations in the conflict.
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
Vice Admiral Frank Whitworth, the head of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), spoke about a recent article from The New York Times, which claimed that both the US and UK have supplied Ukraine with satellite imagery and other details concerning the Kursk Region. This disclosure came after the commencement of the operation, wherein Ukraine advanced thousands of heavily armed troops into the territory.
The New York Times indicated that the intelligence was shared not to assist Ukraine in advancing further into Russian territory but to enable Ukrainian commanders to monitor potential Russian reinforcements that could threaten their forces or obstruct their return to Ukraine.
Whitworth pointed out that the Times was likely referring to commercial satellite imagery available through the Global Enhanced GEOINT Delivery (G-EGD) program operated by Maxar, a practice that the US has supported for an extended period.
"There were over 400,000 accounts in that particular portal. And so the availability of commercial imagery is sustained," Whitworth stated during a panel hosted by the Intelligence and National Security Alliance.
"If that is what they are using for purposes of this particular campaign, this limited campaign in Kursk, then I’ll defer to them to confirm that. But the availability is always there," he further added.
In the same panel, CIA Deputy Director David Cohen mentioned that following discussions with Ukrainian officials, there appears to be a strategy to retain some of the captured Russian territory temporarily.
The panel also touched on the broader strategy of the US government to increasingly incorporate commercial technologies to enhance its intelligence and military operations.
READ MORE: UK supports Ukraine's use of long-range missiles inside Russia, according to reports
The involvement of the US and its NATO allies in Ukrainian operations has led Moscow to view the conflict as a proxy war led by the US, where Ukraine acts almost as a private military firm advancing US interests. Russian officials assert that such involvement directly implicates these nations in the conflict.
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
