They fear Russia is preparing an operation to justify invading Ukraine.
The United States has information that indicates Russia has prepositioned a group of operatives to conduct a “false-flag operation” in eastern Ukraine in an attempt to create a pretext for an invasion.
Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said the Defense Department has credible information indicating Russia has “prepositioned a group of operatives” to execute “an operation designed to look like an attack on them or Russian-speaking people in Ukraine” in order to create a reason for a potential invasion.
His information has been confirmed by others in the intelligence field. They are concerned that the operatives are trained in urban warfare and in using explosives to carry out acts of sabotage against Russia’s own proxy forces.
The Pentagon press secretary said that Putin is likely directly aware of Russian false-flag operatives that could be the pretext for an operation in Ukraine. “If past is prologue, it is difficult to see that these kinds of activities could be, would be done without the knowledge, if not the imprimatur of the very senior levels of Russian government,” he said.
A spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin said such “statements have been unfounded and have not been confirmed by anything.”
This new intelligence comes days after a week’s worth of diplomatic meetings between Russia and Western officials failed to produce any results.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For wisdom for Pentagon officials as they provide recommendations to the president.
- For U.S. intelligence officials and agencies as they monitor Russian movements in and near Ukraine.
- For America’s allies in the region and for the safety of the people of Ukraine and surrounding countries.
Sources: CNN, Reuters, CBS News
