Senate NDAA Draft Adds Intelligence Support for Ukraine Operations Including Crimea

Section 1223 of the proposed Senate version of the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act directs the Secretary of Defense to provide intelligence support, including information, intelligence, and imagery collection authorized under title 10, United States Code, to the Government of Ukraine for the purpose of supporting military operations intended to defend and retake the territory of Ukraine.

The provision defines territory of Ukraine as all territory internationally recognized to be the sovereign territory of Ukraine, including Crimea and the territory the Russian Federation claims to have annexed in Kherson Oblast, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Donetsk Oblast and Luhansk Oblast.

The 2023 and 2026 NDAAs offered intelligence support for Ukraine but did not formally recognize Crimea as Ukrainian territory to be reclaimed.

Ukraine launched its largest drone attack on Moscow since the beginning of the war on or about June 19, 2026. Russian air defense systems shot down 555 drones during the attack. The Russian Ministry of Defense Telegram channel warned on April 15 that further actions of this nature could result in a larger regional war in Europe.

The channel listed addresses of drone manufacturers in Great Britain, Denmark, Latvia and Germany that Russia could hit in retaliation, including Fire Point, Horizon Tech, Davinci Avia, Airlogistics, Kort and Terminal Autonomy. 1 billion in defense articles and services to Ukraine from February 2022 through December 2025 through Presidential Drawdown Authority, the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and Foreign Military Financing.

3 million Russian military personnel.