Day 71 Roundup: US Intelligence Reportedly Helping Ukraine Kill Russian Generals; Russia Claims 600 Ukrainian Fighters Killed

MAY 5 2022·Updated FEB 8 2024

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Image credit: The New York Times

The Facts

The US has given Ukraine intelligence that has helped target and kill Russian generals in the course of its invasion, unnamed US officials told the New York Times. The Pentagon previously acknowledged it's sharing intelligence with Ukraine "to defend themselves," but not to the extent that it's being used for deadly attacks.
nytimes
Ukraine says it has killed an estimated 12 Russian generals in the course of the war so far. US officials declined to specify how many were as a result of American intelligence.
nytimes
Meanwhile, Russia's defense ministry said it killed 600 Ukrainian fighters, as well as destroying 61 pieces of military equipment, in overnight airstrikes. The numbers couldn't be independently confirmed.
Reuters
Across the border in Russia's Belgorod region, Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Thurs. that Ukraine shelled the villages of Zhuravlyovka and Nekhoteevka, adding there were no civilian casualties.
Zawya
In Mariupol, more than 300 people have been rescued from the city and surrounding area – and over 150 from the Azovstal steelworks plant – this week, according to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. Thurs. also saw claims of renewed attacks on the plant, but Russia has denied the allegations and they couldn't be independently confirmed.
President
Meanwhile, in Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea, Russia's defense ministry said it simulated missile attacks with Iskander weapons capable of carrying nuclear warheads, adding that more than 100 soldiers took part in the exercise.
Independent

Sources Split

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The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

US military support for Ukraine, including intelligence sharing, has been a crucial part of shattering Putin's ambitions of a swift victory and has been instrumental in holding back Russian advances. The US must support Ukraine as long as necessary.

nytimes

Establishment-critical narrative

Russia has long been aware of America's intelligence sharing with Ukraine, in addition to that of Britain and other NATO countries. This, alongside Western weapons, has only served to drag out the conflict unnecessarily.

Yahoo! News

Pro-Russia narrative

NATO and the US have ignored Russia's security concerns by breaking its promise not to expand eastward in return for German reunification. These concerns are legitimate and taking them seriously would have avoided the Ukraine tragedy.