US Army Major General Antonio Aguto left classified maps unattended on a train and suffered a concussion after heavy drinking during a visit to Ukraine, according to a Pentagon report.
Context
Aguto is a US Army major general. After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he became commander of the Security Assistance Group–Ukraine (SAG-U). He led the command from December 2022 to August 2024.
The Pentagon received three anonymous complaints about Aguto in May 2024. They said he left classified documents unattended on a train, violated curfew, and appeared drunk at events. Investigators opened the case on June 6. They interviewed 33 witnesses and reviewed documents.
Not all allegations were confirmed. For example, the Pentagon did not prove claims that Aguto created a “toxic work environment.” The report says low morale in SAG-U had multiple causes. These included a high operational tempo, harsh living conditions, limited facilities, high staff turnover, and cultural differences. Most witnesses did not blame Aguto.
Lost documents
On March 12, the Pentagon released a report saying Aguto brought classified maps during a trip from Germany to Ukraine in late March 2024. He told colleagues to transport classified materials, even though they did not have permission. According to the report, his staff forgot the documents on a train. They remained unattended for more than a day.
US personnel in Germany later realized the documents were missing and contacted Ukrzaliznytsia. The maps were found and sent to the US Embassy.
“MG Aguto took responsibility for this incident,” the report says.
He was also accused of sharing classified information in an unsecured setting in July 2024.
Alcohol and injuries
The investigation found that Aguto abused alcohol during his time in Ukraine. On May 14, 2024, he suffered a concussion after drinking. The night before, he attended a dinner at a restaurant and left after 11 p.m. During the six-hour dinner, he drank more than the allowed limit of alcohol. After that, he fell and hit his head at least three times.
Aguto described the dinner as a social event.
“I acted in good faith within what I believed to be appropriate guidance from General Williams as during our conversation he indicated no limitation on alcohol consumption,” he told the inspector general’s office.
Aguto said he drank chacha but did not know how much, as others poured it. A witness estimated about two bottles. The next morning, he had a scheduled meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. That same day, he met US and Ukrainian officials. They were surprised by his appearance. Aguto had torn clothes, a head injury, a bruise on his face, and smelled of alcohol.
Earlier, The Ukrainian Review reported that US President Donald Trump called on countries to help unblock the Strait of Hormuz for tankers. A blockade could hit the global economy.
