© US Naval Forces
Ukraine was planning a series of strikes on targets deep inside Russia, including Moscow, to mark the anniversary of the start of the conflict earlier this year but was talked out of the idea after late intervention by the US, the Washington Post has claimed. The outlet also cited unnamed Ukrainian officials as acknowledging that Washington has the final say in at least some of Kiev's military operations.
The Post alleged on Monday, citing leaked Pentagon documents, that the head of Ukraine's military intelligence directorate (HUR), Kirill Budanov, had instructed subordinates to "get ready for mass strikes on 24 February" on several Russian cities.
However, US officials were "secretly monitoring" Kiev's plans and were concerned that Russia could unleash a devastating response, potentially including the use of tactical nuclear weapons, the paper claimed.
According to the Post, the CIA issued a classified report on February 22 stating that the Ukrainian intelligence agency "had agreed, at Washington's request, to postpone strikes."
Comment: History writes itself. Then come the edits.