A Department of Defense Inspector General report alleges retired Major General Antonio Aguto left maps marked 'SECRET' on a European train after visiting Ukraine; the documents, stored in an unsecured plastic tube, were recovered a day later in Kyiv. Investigators say Aguto did not follow a July 2022 directive limiting classified transport to diplomatic couriers and could not determine who had the maps when they were abandoned. The report also states Aguto consumed two bottles of alcohol, suffered a concussion after a fall, and was reported to be impaired ahead of his May 14, 2024 meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Retired Major General Allegedly Left 'SECRET' Ukraine Maps On Train, Then Suffered Drunken Concussion Before Meeting With Blinken
Antonio Aguto
According to a Department of Defense Inspector General report, now-retired Major General Antonio Aguto is accused of leaving maps marked 'SECRET' on a European train and of suffering a drunken concussion the night before a scheduled meeting with then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Missing Classified Maps
Aguto, who coordinated U.S. assistance to Ukraine from December 2022 through September 2024, reportedly misplaced the classified maps while traveling across Europe after a trip to Ukraine. The materials were stored in a black, plastic, unsecured cylindrical tube approximately 1.5 to 3 feet long. The inspector general's report quotes Aguto saying, 'I used these maps quite frequently regardless of where I’m at to brief officials on the status of what’s going on in Ukraine, uh which is my job.'
Courier Rules and Recovery
Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink issued a July 2022 directive stating that only 'diplomatic couriers' or specially authorized nondiplomatic couriers may transport classified material across international borders. The report says Aguto did not follow that guidance. Although he reportedly entrusted the tube to members of his staff during travel, investigators found 'insufficient evidence' to determine who had possession when the maps were left behind. The documents were reportedly recovered by Ukrainian nationals one day later when the train returned to Kyiv.
Alcohol Incident and Operational Impact
The inspector general also found that Aguto engaged in an 'overindulgence in alcohol' while in Kyiv, consuming from 'two bottles of alcohol' with a companion whose name is redacted in the report. After returning to his hotel, Aguto is said to have fallen and sustained a concussion. Witnesses reported a 'very strong smell of alcohol,' and investigators concluded his condition impaired his performance on May 14, 2024 — the day he was due to meet Secretary Blinken.
Inspector General Findings
The IG report documents procedural failures, a potential security risk from mishandling classified material and the operational consequences of Aguto's intoxication. The report includes redactions and focuses on administrative and security findings rather than announcing criminal charges.
Note: These details are drawn from the Department of Defense Inspector General report and reflect its findings and redactions.
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