Official: US gave intel before Ukraine sank Russian warship

The U.S. says it shared intelligence with Ukraine about the location of the Russian missile cruiser Moskva before the strike that sank the warship

The U.S. says it shared intelligence with Ukraine about the location of the Russian missile cruiser Moskva before the strike that sank the warship, a high-profile embarrassment for Russia's military, but the Pentagon denied on Friday that it played a direct role in the strike.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said in a statement that the U.S. “did not provide Ukraine with specific targeting information for the Moskva,” although he acknowledged that the U.S. and allies routinely share intelligence with Ukraine.

“We were not involved in the Ukrainians’ decision to strike the ship or in the operation they carried out,” he added. “We had no prior knowledge of Ukraine’s intent to target the ship.”

An American official said on Thursday that Ukraine alone decided to target and sink the flagship of Russia's Black Sea Fleet using its own anti-ship missiles. But given Russia's attacks on the Ukrainian coastline from the sea, the U.S. has provided “a range of intelligence” that includes the locations of those ships, said the official, who was not authorised to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Biden administration has ramped up intelligence sharing with Ukraine alongside the shipment of arms and missiles to help it repel Russia's invasion. The disclosure of U.S. support in the Moskva strike comes as the White House is under pressure from Republicans to do more to support Ukraine's resistance and as polls suggest some Americans question whether President Joe Biden is being tough enough on Russia.

Speaking to CNN on Friday, Mr. Kirby said “the intelligence that we provide to Ukraine is legal. It’s lawful, it’s legitimate, and it’s limited.” He acknowledged that the U.S. is always concerned about the potential for escalation in the conflict with nuclear-armed Russia.

As its offensive has largely stalled, Russia has issued increasingly menacing warnings to the U.S. and its NATO allies that it may attempt to strike arms shipments that are bolstering Ukraine's defenses.