National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, April 10, 2023. AP.
Several NATO member states have sent special forces to Ukraine, according to Pentagon documents leaked online.
The
revelation is likely to further degrade relations between Russia and
the West as Moscow continues its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which
began in February last year.
- The documents purportedly show that Latvia, France, the U.S., the U.K., and the Netherlands have sent special forces to Ukraine.
- The U.K. operates the largest contingent of special forces in the war-torn country, followed by Latvia and France.
- The U.K.'s defense ministry did not comment on the leaked information but issued a short statement
on Tuesday saying that, "Readers should be cautious about taking at
face value allegations that have the potential to spread
misinformation."
- Officials at the Pentagon have previously acknowledged that the leaked documents are genuine.
- Documentary evidence of Western special forces deployments in Ukraine may inflame tensions between Russia and the West.
- The Kremlin has previously alleged that Russia's military was confronting NATO in Ukraine.
