Ukraine military: Western intelligence data used for cross-border attack

A member of a Ukrainian military brigade says the country used intelligence data provided by Western partners to monitor Russia's moves before launching its cross-border attack.

The soldier spoke to NHK about the details of the cross-border offensive in Russia's Kursk region. He handles public relations for the brigade that operates near the border with Russia.

He said officers and soldiers at the local command who were not involved in the planning did not know anything about the operation and did not even guess it would take place.

He said Ukrainian forces secretly carried out a thorough reconnaissance of the Kursk region with the help of unmanned aircraft and satellites.