CIA in Ukraine: cooperation after decommunization

How Ukraine convinced CIA to recruit its whole intelligence community

The New York Times highlights the CIA's secret work with Ukraine, detailing a decade-long intelligence tie aimed at countering Russia. This partnership established spy bases and boosted Ukraine's espionage skills, providing the US with valuable intel. However, Ukraine gained even more: the capabilities to defend itself when the Russian invasion came, underlining the deep strategic benefits of this alliance in the intricate world of international security and intelligence cooperation.

Subject: CIA-Ukraine Intelligence Partnership Overview

Background: Establishment and Initial Phase The intelligence cooperation between the United States and Ukraine commenced over ten years prior, targeting the mitigation of Russian influence. The creation of espionage installations along the Russian frontier, funded and outfitted by the CIA, marked the initiation of this alliance. These bases were instrumental in the surveillance of Russian military movements and interception of communications, reinforcing Ukraine's position as a vital intelligence collaborator in the confrontation against Russia. This relationship, predating the ongoing conflict, reflects a sustained strategic investment across various U.S. administrations, underlining Ukraine's significance in global security considerations.

CIA Support: Training and Enhancement Initiatives Beyond infrastructural aid, the CIA's role extended to bolstering human intelligence capabilities within Ukraine. Special operations units, notably Unit 2245, underwent training for the capture and analysis of Russian technological assets. Additionally, the CIA facilitated the preparation of a new cadre of Ukrainian intelligence operatives for missions within Russian and European territories. This preparation was pivotal during the Russian incursion in 2022, with CIA personnel on-site providing essential intelligence for defensive operations, demonstrating the depth of the agency's engagement.