For attacks on Ukraine
Does the Russian military use US satellite images?
March 18, 2024, 10:30 p.m
Listen to article
This audio version was artificially generated. More info | Send feedback
Satellite images serve both Russia and Ukraine in reconnaissance of enemy positions. However, the Ukrainian military suspects that the Kremlin troops are also obtaining recordings from US companies in a roundabout way – with serious consequences.
There is suspicion in the Ukrainian military that Russia is also basing its air attacks with bombs and cruise missiles on satellite images created by US companies. That reports “The Atlantic” citing an unnamed Ukrainian military official. “The number of matches in which air strikes follow the images is too high to be coincidental,” the military is quoted as saying.
The sequence is clear: a satellite takes pictures of a location and a rocket hits a few days or weeks later. Sometimes another satellite is sent to take more images, perhaps to check the extent of the damage, says the Ukrainian.
According to the report, satellite images archived with dates and coordinates show patterns that indicate that in hundreds of cases, images from US companies could have been used by Russian forces. The recordings can sometimes be purchased from corresponding companies for just a few thousand euros.
US companies deny cooperation
Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Kateryna Chernohorenko stated that US satellite companies have been supporting Ukraine. However, her ministry’s experts suspect that Russia “acquires satellite images through third-party companies” that work with Western satellite imaging companies and that these images “could be used for armed attacks against Ukraine.”
According to The Atlantic report, the satellite images also include images from two of the largest US companies: Planet and Maxar. The latter declare that they stopped all business with Russian entities or third parties that sell to Russia at the beginning of March 2022. Planet said it limited its provision of imagery to “responsible actors such as governments, aid and rescue organizations and media,” with “care taken to avoid possible misuse.”
The report suspects that such images may still be able to reach Russian authorities via third parties. The unnamed Ukrainian military official would “just like to see these images moderated,” perhaps by allowing the Ukrainian military to see which images are being commissioned before they are taken. He added that “companies should examine very carefully the records of who purchased these images.”