Ukraine's air defenses are reportedly running out of missiles and ammunition within weeks, according to leaked Pentagon documents dating from February. The authenticity of the documents has not been verified, but they outline in detail how Ukraine's Soviet-era S-300 air defense systems and Buk air defense systems would be depleted at the current usage rate. The leak has caused concern among US defense officials, who are racing to trace how the files became public.
The leak is seen as one of the most serious security breaches since more than 700,000 documents, videos, and diplomatic cables appeared on the WikiLeaks website in 2013. Some US officials believe the leak may have been from a US source, as many of the documents were only in US hands. However, the investigation is in its early stages, and pro-Russian elements may also be behind the leak.
Russian fighter jets and bombers gaining more opportunity to attack Ukrainian forces could prove a major challenge for Kyiv, with air defenses protecting troops on the front line potentially being "completely reduced" by May 23rd. Ukraine is facing serious challenges in finding the Soviet-designed ammunition for its crucial S-300 and the Buk batteries. Colonel Yuri Ihnat, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, urged western allies to speed up their assistance, stating that "if we lose the battle for the skies, the consequences for Ukraine will be very serious."
The apparent leak of the large cache of classified Pentagon documents may have ramifications beyond Russia's war on Ukraine. One document reveals that Mossad was encouraging protests against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to tighten controls on the supreme court. The Mossad is not meant to wade into domestic political matters. Another document gave details of internal discussions among senior South Korean officials about US pressure on Seoul to help supply weapons to Ukraine, and its policy of not doing so.
The Pentagon has referred the issue to the Department of Justice, which has opened a criminal investigation. Such closely-guarded information could be of great use to Russian forces, and Ukraine said its president and top security officials met to discuss ways to prevent leaks.