While the authenticity of the material has yet to be confirmed by officials, The Washington Post reported the embarrassing leak of secrets about the war in Ukraine came from a Discord user nicknamed "OG", a gun enthusiast who works on a US military base.

The New York Times said a "trail of digital evidence" led to a 21-year-old national guardsman named Jack Teixeira as the leader of the private chat group, called Thug Shaker Central. He has not been officially identified as a suspect. 

San Francisco-based Discord was created in 2015 primarily as a platform for gamers to chat, but it has also become an alternative for users disenchanted with major players Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Discord allows communities to set up something called servers, which are virtual spaces where users can chat, share media, and connect with other users who share similar interests.

Citing fellow members of the group, the Post reported that the chat room allegedly behind the leak was a destination for two dozen men and boys who shared a "mutual love of guns, military gear and God." 

"There are a million microcosms out there in social media land that are like that," said Syracuse University research professor Jason Davis.

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