As secret U.S. and NATO papers leaked on social media, Ukraine’s authorities addressed strategies to avoid military intelligence breaches.

Senior U.S. officials told the New York Times on Thursday that secret war documents were uploaded this week on Twitter and Telegram, a popular Russian app.

A Ukrainian source told Reuters the documents contained “quite substantial amounts of fake material.” It looked like a Russian misinformation campaign to cast doubt on the attack, which required modern Western weapons.

“They are typical Russian intelligence operations games. No more, “presidential official Mykhailo Podolyak stated. A Kremlin statement was delayed.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s Friday discussions at the Ukrainian armed forces supreme command headquarters did not address a leak.

“The discussion focused on methods to prevent the leakage of information regarding the intentions of the Ukrainian defence forces,” it stated.

After initial reluctance following Russia’s invasion, Ukraine increasingly exchanges intelligence with Western partners. However, it was unclear if the conversations focused on limiting leaks from within Ukraine or from Western allies.

The records did not specify when or where the attack would occur. Still, the leak might damage confidence between partners because it included supply schedules for armaments and Western-trained Ukrainian forces, according to the Times.

The article reported U.S. authorities were trying to get the tweets removed because they looked to have been edited, overstating American estimates of Ukrainian battle dead and minimizing Russian military deaths.

The White House declined to comment. The documents were unavailable to Reuters.

“We are aware of the reports of social media posts and the department is evaluating the situation,” a Pentagon spokeswoman replied.

Three U.S. officials told Reuters in Washington that Russia or pro-Russian individuals likely leaked.

One social media post claimed 16,000–17,500 Russian soldiers have died since the invasion. Officials estimate 200,000 Russians dead and injured.

British intelligence claimed earlier that Russian soldiers were threatening a critical supply line to Bakhmut, the center of their attack for months that Ukraine has maintained it is protecting to wear the invaders down before its counter-offensive.

Although the Ukrainian military was holding on in the city, it wasn’t easy.

On Wednesday, Zelenskiy claimed his soldiers would withdraw from Bakhmut, one of the last major centers in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region to fall to Russian forces if encircled.

After failing to overrun Ukraine early in the war, Russia proclaimed four eastern and southern Ukrainian regions annexed last year and is now trying to seize Donetsk entirely.

British military intelligence’s Friday bulletin focused less on Ukrainian victories than normal.

“Ukraine’s critical 0506 supply line west of the town is certainly badly affected,” it stated. If supplies and wounded are cut off, Ukrainian military expert Vladyslav Selezniov says Ukraine would have to retreat.

Eastern Military Command spokeswoman Serhiy Cherevatyi told Reuters Ukraine controlled Bakhmut and knew Russian objectives.

Western observers believe both sides are losing much personnel in the battle for Bakhmut, a major transport and logistical center now mostly destroyed.

Last month, Zelenskiy told CNN that if Russian forces controlled Bakhmut, they would have “an open route” to Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, two larger Donetsk cities.

Millions of Ukrainians have left the war, which has destroyed numerous towns and killed many.

The Ukrainian Defence Ministry reported three civilian deaths and 17 injuries from Russian artillery, missile, and aircraft strikes on 114 communities in nine districts during the last 24 hours.

Russian-controlled eastern Ukraine said two Ukrainian artillery attacks killed seven people on Thursday. They deny targeting people.

Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022 because its steps toward the West threatened Russia’s security, and Russian authorities have subsequently repressed opposition.

According to the Russian embassy in Belarus, Alexei Moskalyov is imprisoned for undermining the army after his daughter created an anti-war drawing. Russia is Belarus’s close ally.

The Kremlin won’t contemplate peace if Kyiv doesn’t recognize Russia’s seized regions. Ukraine claims it did not threaten Russia and cannot negotiate unless Moscow withdraws all its soldiers.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu warned of a spring conflict escalation in Ankara.

Lavrov claimed the West neglected Russia’s security concerns and must consider its interests. Lavrov said he would never turn down real engagement with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the UN headquarters.