Trump’s Intel Cutoff Costs Hundreds of Ukrainian Lives as Russia Advances

Donald Trump’s decision to cut off intelligence-sharing has left Ukrainian soldiers blind—and hundreds are already dead. Smoke rises over Kursk, where Russia advances unchallenged, its path cleared by Washington’s betrayal.

According to Simon Shuster’s TIME report, “Hundreds of Dead: Inside the Fallout from Trump’s Ukraine Intel Pause”, published on March 8, 2025, Trump’s administration severed military intelligence-sharing with Ukraine in the days following a contentious February 28 Oval Office meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky.

During that exchange, Zelensky pleaded for continued U.S. support, warning that Russia could not be trusted in ceasefire negotiations. Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance publicly dismissed him, with Trump rejecting Ukraine’s position outright. “You don’t have the cards,” Trump said, dismissing Zelensky’s concerns. “You’re gambling with World War III.” In the days that followed, the U.S. cut off critical intelligence-sharing and military aid. The decision came swiftly after the meeting, with U.S. officials openly blaming Ukraine for the fallout.

The impact has been immediate and devastating. “As a result of this pause, there are hundreds of dead Ukrainians,” a senior Ukrainian military officer told TIME. The officer, speaking anonymously, described a morale collapse among troops now forced to fight without access to key intelligence that previously helped them anticipate Russian attacks. “The biggest problem is morale,” he explained. “It’s really causing an advantage for the enemy on the front line.”

One of the hardest-hit areas is Kursk, where Ukrainian forces launched a surprise offensive last August, marking the first invasion of Russian territory since World War II. That operation embarrassed the Kremlin and prompted Moscow to escalate its war effort, bringing in North Korean troops to reinforce Russian forces. Zelensky had intended to use Kursk as a bargaining chip in future negotiations, hoping to trade parts of the region for Ukrainian land currently under Russian occupation. However, with the loss of U.S. intelligence, Russia has exploited Ukraine’s growing vulnerabilities and made rapid gains in Kursk. “If we do nothing, there will be huge consequences,” warned Roman Pogorily, co-founder of Deep State, an open-source intelligence organization monitoring battlefield developments. “It is impossible to move normally along [the main supply line],” he added.

Beyond Kursk, the intelligence blackout has significantly weakened Ukrainian operations inside Russian-held territory. A Ukrainian government source told TIME that the loss of U.S. intelligence has left Ukraine exposed to Russian bomber and missile launches, dramatically reducing the time available to warn civilians and military personnel of incoming attacks. “Not only Kursk, in all Russian territory there are problems now,” the source confirmed. “It’s very dangerous for our people.”

The suspension of U.S. intelligence has also weakened Ukraine’s ability to carry out precision strikes against Russian military targets. Since 2022, Ukraine has relied on American-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) in combination with satellite intelligence to hit high-value Russian command centers deep behind enemy lines.

However, with the withdrawal of U.S. data, these long-range strikes have become far less effective. Even Maxar Technologies, a private satellite imaging company based in Colorado, has cut off services to Ukraine under orders from the U.S. government. In an emailed statement to TIME, Maxar confirmed that “the U.S. government has decided to temporarily suspend Ukrainian accounts” in the system used to provide commercial satellite imagery. This has further weakened Ukraine’s ability to track Russian troop movements.

Despite the severity of the situation, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, General Keith Kellogg, dismissed concerns with callous indifference. Defending the administration’s decision, Kellogg stated that Ukraine had “brought it on themselves” and compared the intelligence suspension to physically striking an animal to force compliance, saying it was like hitting a mule with a two-by-four. “Got their attention,” he added.

The decision has sent shockwaves through Ukraine’s Western allies, who now openly question whether the United States can be trusted as a security partner. Some European intelligence agencies have stepped in to provide limited support, but officials admit they cannot match the depth of U.S. capabilities. “We are really thankful to European partners,” one Ukrainian officer said. “This is the only one solid point that gives us any hope, because without this support, we cannot survive.” Meanwhile, the withdrawal of Western intelligence personnel from Kyiv has deepened fears that Ukraine is being abandoned. “There’s no one left,” a source close to Ukraine’s general staff told TIME.

The suspension of military intelligence represents a fundamental realignment of U.S. foreign policy—one that raises concerns among NATO members about Washington’s reliability. If the U.S. won’t provide critical intelligence to a war-torn ally now, will it step up when other allies are threatened?

This isn’t the first time the West has turned its back on Ukraine. In 2014, Putin took Crimea while world leaders hesitated. Now, thanks to Trump, history repeats itself.

For Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines, the geopolitical calculations and diplomatic maneuvering are meaningless. They are facing a war they cannot win under these conditions, with fewer resources, less intelligence, and a diminishing chance of holding the front line.

They die in darkness. Missiles fall without warning. The wounded cry out, but no reinforcements come. The intelligence that once kept them safe is now out of reach.

Trump’s decision isn’t just about Ukraine—it’s about whether the United States still stands for anything at all.

And if an ally can be abandoned this easily, who will be next?