U.S. Military Presence In Ukraine Exposed In Leaked Documents, Sparking National Security Concerns (Video)

Kirby made the statement when asked about the authenticity of leaked Pentagon documents that contain evidence pointing to the presence of U.S. Special Forces in war-torn Ukraine. Kirby declined to give specific details regarding the numbers of military personnel involved but noted that there was a small U.S. military team operating at the embassy alongside the Defense Attaché's Office.

This team's mandate is to supervise and ensure accountability for the material that the U.S. is transferring to and from Ukraine, including weapons and other forms of support.

April 13, 2023

At the same time, Kirby clarified that the troops stationed in Ukraine were not involved in fighting on the battlefield: "There has been no change to the president's mandate that there will not be American troops in Ukraine fighting in this war." His comments came during President Biden's visit to Northern Ireland, where Kirby was their speaking on the sidelines.

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With regards to the leaks, Kirby emphasized the government's intention to engage with relevant allies and partners to provide more information about the situation. While acknowledging that there was still much to learn about the leaks' origin and content, Kirby confirmed that the government was conducting a criminal investigation to ascertain any national security implications that could arise from them.

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Responding to the possible existence of additional leaks, he admitted that "we don't know what else this individual or individuals might have and might still release." Kirby declined to comment on the content of the leaked documents, given their sensitive nature and potential security implications.

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On Tuesday, Fox News had reported that the leaks, which contain "sensitive and highly-classified material," may have originated from outside the Department of Defense, as per conversations with various American defense and intelligence officials. Kirby expressed his serious concerns about the leaks and the need to fully protect national security, stating that "this is a breach of our ability to protect some information, and that's why we're taking it so seriously."