Hegseth fires Pentagon’s chief strategist over leak of data on Ukraine

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has fired the Pentagon’s chief strategist, Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia, over accusations of leaking classified information about the wars in Ukraine and Iran.

This is reported by Fox News, citing sources.

According to the outlet, the secretary fired the military officer amid an investigation into the alleged transfer to journalists of classified data about the war in Iran, Russia’s war against Ukraine and other sensitive matters.

A source in the US Department of Defense noted that Sylvia failed three polygraph tests related to the alleged leak of information.

“The Department of Defense maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward the deliberate and unauthorized disclosure of classified information. Anyone who compromises confidential information concerning national security endangers the lives of our service members and undermines the effectiveness of all military operations that ensure the security of our country,” US Defense Department spokesperson Sean Parnell said.

Sylvia held the post of director of the Joint Staff’s Directorate for Strategy, Plans and Policy (J5), responsible for developing military strategy and advising the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. At the same time, sources note that he was removed from the position back in the spring.

This is another personnel shake-up in the top military leadership under Hegseth, Fox News notes: during his tenure, nearly two dozen generals, admirals and other senior military leaders have left their posts or been removed for various reasons.

In the summer it was reported that, due to Pete Hegseth’s dismissals of officers, General Christopher Todd Donahue, who played a key role in US efforts to assist Ukraine, resigned.

A few days ago, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Hegseth had not signed documents on the supply of interceptor missiles to the Armed Forces of Ukraine for a month.