U.S. intelligence officials have said a Russian effort is under way to send more troops into Ukraine.
Moscow, according to an AP report, has already suggested to its agents that they find a reason to conduct an operation in eastern Ukraine.
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Friday that intelligence findings show Russia is also laying the groundwork for a social media disinformation campaign that identifies Ukraine as an attacker preparing an operation against Russian-backed forces. in eastern Ukraine.
Psaki accused Russia of having already sent trainees to the civil war who could use explosives to carry out sabotage operations against the forces.
“We are concerned that the Russian government is preparing for an invasion of Ukraine that could lead to widespread human rights abuses and war crimes if diplomacy fails to achieve its goals,” Psaki said.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby called the information “very credible.” A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment, said:
The findings of the US Secret Service, which were declassified and communicated to the allies
of the White House before they were made public, indicate that a military invasion could begin from mid-January to mid-February.
Ukraine is also monitoring the possible use of misinformation by Russia. Separately, Ukrainian media reported on Friday that authorities believed Russian special services were plotting a possible incident to provoke a clash.
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Thursday that the U.S. intelligence community has not estimated that the Russians, who have gathered about 100,000 troops on the Ukrainian border, have decided to go ahead with military action. movements.
CNN, NBC, AP
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