The USA has created 12 secret bases in Ukraine "along the Russian border", and it started eight years ago. This is stated in the New York Times article.


These bases, which are often located in underground bunkers, have been used to listen to Russian airwaves since then, and now, in particular, they control the kamikaze drones that Ukraine uses against Russia. 

"The CIA and other US intelligence agencies provide intelligence for targeted missile strikes, track Russian troop movements, and help maintain spy networks," the article says.

"This has turned Ukraine... into one of Washington's most important intelligence partners in the fight against the Kremlin," the NYT writes. 

Around 2016, the CIA began training Ukraine's "Unit 2245," which captured Russian drones and communications equipment so that the CIA could hack them. One of the officers of this unit was Kyrylo Budanov, the current head of the GUR.

"The CIA also helped train a new generation of Ukrainian spies who operated inside Russia, across Europe, in Cuba and elsewhere where the Russians have a large presence," the article says.

Over the past decade, this cooperation "turned Ukraine into an intelligence gathering center that intercepted more Russian communications than the CIA station in Russia." 

"According to a senior European official, in late 2021, Putin was considering whether to launch a full-scale invasion. He met with the head of one of Russia's top spy services, who told him that the CIA, along with Britain's MI6 intelligence agency, was controlling Ukraine and turning it into a beachhead for operations against Moscow," the NYT writes.

The article also says that CIA Director William Burns secretly visited Ukraine on February 22. 

The purpose of the visit was to "reassure Ukrainian leaders" who fear that American intelligence agencies will be less active in helping Kyiv strike at the Russians due to the blocking of US aid. 

"Russia is on the offensive, and Ukraine is more dependent on sabotage and long-range missile strikes, which require spies far behind enemy lines. And they are increasingly at risk: if Republicans in Congress cut off military funding to Kyiv, the CIA may have to cut back," the publication explains the reason for the visit.