The NYT article reveals those CIA bases are not just defensive -- they are for offensive scouting of targets to hit within Russia proper. That's not defending Americans or even Ukrainians: long range missiles are for killing Russians. Beyond such offensive operations not being mission critical, they're a provocation to war. And they were set up years before 2022.
It was an open question exactly what kind of threat a Western-controlled Ukraine poses to Russia, considering we have ICBMs. Well, here it is.
It was an open question exactly what kind of threat a Western-controlled Ukraine poses to Russia, considering we have ICBMs. Well, here it is.