An alarming leak of classified documents that reveal US national security secrets related to Ukraine, the Middle East, and China has surfaced online, with one intelligence official describing it as a "nightmare" situation. The New York Times reported on this latest leak, which follows the Pentagon's announcement that it is investigating photos that allegedly expose highly classified plans for a Ukrainian military offensive in the spring.
The newly leaked documents appeared on message board website 4chan, Twitter, Telegram, and other platforms on Friday afternoon. This trove of information also contains secret briefing slides on China, the Indo-Pacific military theater, the Middle East, and terrorism, as reported by the New York Times. Additionally, more materials related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine emerged on social media sites on Friday.
One newly leaked document is a map that allegedly displays the current status of intense fighting in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, according to the New York Times. Furthermore, the New York Post discovered five new documents on Telegram that reportedly show Ukrainian air defense positions, combat equipment numbers, and maps of the combat situations in Kharkiv and southern Ukraine.
A senior intelligence official told the New York Times that the leak is "a nightmare for the Five Eyes" - the United States, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, which share intelligence. The report suggests that over 100 documents have slipped through the hands of the intelligence community, with an anonymous analyst describing the documents released this week as potentially just the "tip of the iceberg."
The first set of sensitive material was posted on Telegram by pro-Russian accounts on Thursday. The Post's review found that at least five photos of printed presentation slides and maps were posted, with three labeled "Secret" and one labeled "Top Secret." A fourth image displayed no visible classified markings.
US officials informed The New York Post on Friday that the photos show real slides, but some of the information appeared to have been edited. Kremlin-aligned accounts seem to have altered estimated casualties in the plans, claiming that Russia had lost between "16k-17.5k" forces in the conflict so far while between "61k-71.5k" Ukrainian troops had been killed in action.
Before the new leaked documents surfaced, Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said on Friday, "We are aware of the reports of social media posts, and the Department is reviewing the matter." On Friday evening, after the additional documents emerged, Singh stated that the matter had been referred to the Department of Justice. "The Department of Defense is actively reviewing the matter and has made a formal referral to the Department of Justice for investigation," she added.
