In a covert operation spanning over a decade, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has been working closely with Ukrainian intelligence agencies to gather crucial intelligence on Russia, making Ukraine one of Washington's key allies in countering the Kremlin. The partnership, which escalated following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has proven instrumental in assisting Ukraine's defense capabilities and providing vital intelligence for targeted missile strikes and tracking Russian troop movements.

The collaboration between the CIA and Ukraine originated in 2014, immediately after Ukrainian pro-Kremlin government was ousted. Ukraine's new spy chief, Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, reached out to the CIA and Britain's MI6, seeking assistance in revamping the country's intelligence agencies from scratch. Recognizing the significant threat Russia posed, the CIA cautiously established a relationship, providing intelligence support to help Ukraine defend its territory.

Over the years, this alliance has grown and expanded, with the CIA helping to rebuild Ukrainian intelligence infrastructure, training elite commando forces, and establishing a network of spy bases along the Russian border. The CIA's aid included funding, equipment, and specialized training programs to enhance Ukraine's capabilities in tracking Russian military communications and gathering intelligence within Russia itself.

The CIA-aided spy bases, including a secret underground bunker, serve as critical nerve centers for intercepting Russian spy satellites, monitoring Russian commanders' conversations, and even hacking into the Russian military's secure communication networks. These secret locations have become vital in tracking Russian activity, gathering intelligence, and supporting long-range missile strikes against Russian targets.

This intelligence partnership proved its worth even before the outbreak of war, as Ukraine provided intercepts that exposed Russia's involvement in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in 2014 and assisted the U.S. in investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

However, tensions within the partnership arose when Ukrainian officials became frustrated with what they perceived as the CIA's cautious approach. Ukrainian intelligence agencies sought to conduct offensive operations, including covert missions into Russian territory to disrupt Russian activities. Although the CIA had established red lines, forbidding lethal operations, certain Ukrainian officials conducted assassinations and other lethal operations without explicit approval. This led to disagreements and strains in the relationship.

Despite the challenges and occasional disagreements, the CIA and Ukrainian intelligence agencies have remained steadfast allies. Throughout the 2022 Russian invasion, CIA officers remained on the ground in Ukraine, providing critical intelligence support to Ukrainian forces. Their intelligence briefings often included specific details of Russian plans that proved accurate and helped Ukrainian forces counter Russian aggression effectively.

As the Russian threat looms large, the CIA's partnership with Ukraine has become more crucial than ever. However, concerns arise as Republicans in Congress consider cutting military funding to Ukraine, which could result in scaling back CIA support. Reaffirming the commitment, CIA Director William Burns recently visited Ukraine in a secret visit, emphasizing the agency's support during these challenging times.

The CIA's alliance with Ukrainian intelligence agencies remains a closely guarded secret, but with over 200 interviews conducted by The New York Times, the extent of this partnership has come to light. It highlights the lengths at which these two nations have gone to counter Russian aggression and serves as a testament to the invaluable intelligence-sharing between the CIA and Ukraine.

As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine intensifies, the future of this intelligence partnership hangs in the balance. The CIA's commitment to Ukraine is being tested, but the undeniable impact it has had on Ukraine's defense capabilities and intelligence gathering cannot be ignored.