Ukraine's Sting Op Exposed US Intel Leaks To Russia

In mid-January 2026, a revelation from a former French intelligence operative sent shockwaves through the geopolitical community. Speaking on LCI television, Vincent Crouzet, a retired DGSE agent, claimed that Ukraine had conducted a deliberate sting operation on U.S. intelligence channels.

The goal? To test whether sensitive information shared with Washington would mysteriously end up in Moscow's hands. According to Crouzet, the Ukrainians fed false data into the system — and watched as it surfaced in Russian possession almost immediately. This explosive allegation, first analysed in depth by James Marinero on Medium, has reignited fierce debate over the integrity of Western intelligence-sharing during the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

The sting operation, if true, exposes a critical vulnerability in the NATO alliance's information ecosystem. Crouzet's account draws from his own experiences in counter-espionage and his book "The Secret Agent" (published in French as "Un Agent Secret"), where he details similar tactics used in past operations. He asserts that the Ukrainians, frustrated by repeated leaks that compromised their battlefield strategies, decided to verify the source.

By planting disinformation about military plans or troop movements, Kyiv could track its path back to Russian forces or state media. The rapid appearance of the fake intel in Moscow's sphere confirmed their suspicions: somewhere in the U.S. pipeline, information was being funnelled eastward.This incident comes at a particularly tense moment in US-Ukraine relations.

Under the Trump administration, aid to Kyiv has faced renewed scrutiny, with delays in weapon deliveries and questions over long-term commitment. The sting raises uncomfortable questions about whether U.S. agencies — possibly the CIA or NSA — have been infiltrated, or if there's a deeper issue with protocol breaches or insider betrayal. While neither Washington nor Kyiv has officially confirmed or denied the operation, anonymous sources in European intelligence circles have corroborated Crouzet's claims, suggesting it occurred sometime in late 2025.

The lack of rebuttal from either side only fuels speculation, with some analysts pointing to historical precedents like the Cold War's "Farewell Dossier," where disinformation was used to expose moles.

Beyond the immediate embarrassment for U.S. intelligence, the broader implications are profound. If Ukraine felt compelled to test its closest ally, it signals a erosion of trust that could hamper coordinated efforts against Russia. NATO's intelligence-sharing mechanisms, designed to pool resources and enhance collective security, rely on absolute confidence between members.

A confirmed leak to Moscow would not only validate Ukraine's paranoia but also raise alarms about Russian penetration of Western systems — potentially through cyber means, human assets, or even unwitting policy channels.Marinero’s original piece argued that the sting was less about outright distrust of Washington and more about Ukraine safeguarding its own operational security in a high-stakes war.

After all, Kyiv has been on the receiving end of devastating leaks before, including details of counteroffensives that appeared in Russian media.

With no official investigation announced as of late January 2026, the story continues to simmer, prompting calls for transparency from European allies and U.S. congressional oversight committees.In an era of hybrid warfare, where information is as lethal as missiles, this episode underscores the fragility of alliances. As Crouzet himself noted, "The secret world is built on trust — but verify." Whether this sting leads to reforms or further fractures remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the shadows of espionage are lengthening.

Ukraine has denied that the sting took place and the US has not commented.

Crouzet himself later clarified he spoke of suspicions/risks of leaks, not a confirmed sting operation. Ukraine's GUR denied the more sensational versions as disinformation.

This all comes on top of the Guardian story about a Witkoff cellphone conversation with a Putin advisor that was leaked by a European government agency? The world of espionage is a dirty place.

Truth is the first casualty of war.