CIA aid to Ukraine helps turn the tide against Russian aggression

 

The CIA has had a presence in Ukraine since the country broke away from the Soviet Union in 1991, but its involvement in the country has changed over time, due to the wavering political climate.

     Let me explain. In the early 90s, the CIA was all about supporting the new Ukrainian government as it transitioned from Soviet rule. The Agency (CIA) gave training and helped the Ukrainian security and intelligence agencies  establish their own capabilities. They also helped with humanitarian aid for the Ukrainian people during this tough time of economic and political chaos.

     Then, in the 2000s, the CIA switched gears and focused on countering Russian influence by supporting pro-Western political forces. They gave support to pro-Western political parties and candidates during Ukrainian elections, while continuing to provide intel and logistics support to its military and intelligence agencies.

     Fast forward to recent years, with the outbreak of the conflict in 2014, the CIA has amped up its intelligence and logistical support even more to the Ukrainian government and military in their fight against pro-Russian separatists, including intense training for the Ukrainian intelligence agencies and special forces units.

     It seems that 2014 was the pivotal year when the CIA made a total commitment to defend Ukraine sovereignty. Since 2014, Ukraine has been going through some tough times with Russia, with the annexation of Crimea and pro-Russian separatists fighting for autonomy in the east. It's been a tough situation with thousands of deaths and many people being displaced.

     The CIA began arming and training Ukraine special forces units, but, as you can imagine, the specifics of the CIA's involvement is classified, so it's hard to know for sure what they're doing. But, the specifics of some of the things they're doing have been reported in the news.

     Based on what’s been reported, the CIA is gathering intelligence on Russian military and political activities, as well as the movements of pro-Russian separatists. They're using surveillance and reconnaissance tools, like satellites and drones, to gather intel on these Russian separatist forces, and passing it on to the Ukrainian military in near-real-time to help them make informed decisions on the battlefield.

     CIA operatives have been embedded alongside Ukrainian special operations units to provide training, advice, and intelligence support. This allows them to provide real-time intel and advice on the ground, as well as gather intel on Russian and separatist forces. Such counterintelligence operations, which the CIA is good at, protects them from Russian infiltration and neutralizes Russian spies and sleeper agents lurking within Ukraine.

     On top of this, the CIA provides the Ukrainian military with weapons, ammunition, and medical supplies. They're also helping with the movement of troops and equipment around the battlefield. 

     By the way, as a spy thriller author, the real-life drama of the CIA's involvement in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine turned me on! It is the stuff of spy thrillers, and if you're looking for a page-turner that delves into the shadowy world of intelligence and special operations, look no further than "THE SHADOW WAR." Several scenes follow the thrilling exploits of a CIA officer as he fights alongside Ukrainian special forces units against Russian aggression. From covert surveillance and reconnaissance operations to dangerous counterintelligence maneuvers, this novel offers a gripping, insider's look at the high-stakes world of intelligence and special operations. Don't miss out on the action, order "THE SHADOW WAR" today. 

     Now, continuing on! And speaking of weapons, it's reported that the CIA has ramped up  supplying weapons to Ukrainian troops in eastern Ukraine, but the specifics of how they're getting these weapons into their hands is not publicly known. It’s speculated that they may be using methods such as direct sales, black market purchases, covert deliveries, third-party intermediaries, and/or military aid.

     It's great to know that our friends in Ukraine have some support in these trying times, and the CIA is doing all it can to provide intelligence and logistical support so the Ukrainian military make more informed decisions on the battlefield that can save lives. The intelligence flowing in from the CIA improves the security of the country simply by making it more difficult for Russia to interfere in Ukrainian affairs.

     The United States and its allies, such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and other members of the European Union, have been vocal in their support for the CIA's involvement in Ukraine. They view this involvement as a way to counter Russian influence and to support pro-Western political forces throughout the entire Eastern European region. 

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and enjoys writing about the U.S. Intelligence Community. He authors the Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster series. Check out his latest spy thrillers: MISSION OF VENGEANCE.