Ukraine relies on expanded intelligence relationship with the US, sources claim
February 3, 2022
UKRAINE
IS INCREASINGLY RELIANT on its close intelligence relationship with the
United States, which has grown dramatically in depth and intensity
since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, according to a new report.
The report,
authored by Zach Dorfman, national security correspondent for Yahoo
News, cites “more than half a dozen former US intelligence and national
security officials”. It suggests that the intelligence relationship
between Ukraine and the US has been “mutually advantageous” in recent
years, and is “as robust […] as just about [any other] in Europe”.
On the American side, the intelligence cooperation effort is led by the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency, two agencies that frequently exchange information with their Ukrainian counterparts. The information, which includes intelligence obtained from intercepted communications, has largely concentrated as of late on Russian military operations and activities. The two agencies have also participated in intelligence exchanges with the Ukrainians, with officials from the two sides engaging in reciprocal visits “to swap information” and provide training.
According to Yahoo News, CIA paramilitary operations officers have been training Ukrainian special operations forces personnel, as well as Ukrainian intelligence officers, since 2015. The training takes place “at an undisclosed facility in the southern United States”, the report states. Moreover, the NSA has engaged in offensive cyber operations against Russian government targets jointly with Ukrainian government agencies. This collaboration is especially lucrative for the NSA, whose collection capabilities in Eastern Europe are relatively limited.
Lastly, the Ukrainians have been providing US government agencies like the Department of the Treasury with financial intelligence on Russian efforts to evade economic sanctions. This information often includes data on the collusion between Russian and Ukrainian oligarchs, as many of the latter have close ties to the Russian government.