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While U.S. Blocks Intelligence to Ukraine, Russia Exploits Western Satellite Data for Missile Attacks
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![Vlad Litnarovych]( "Vlad Litnarovych")
Multiple users of Maxar Technologies' commercial satellite services confirmed that the company disabled Ukraine’s access to its satellite images, Ukrainain military outlet Militarny reported on March 7.
According to reports, Maxar cited an “administrative request” as the official reason for the shutdown, but sources indicate that the decision follows a broader U.S. government directive barring American companies from providing Ukraine with satellite reconnaissance data.
Maxar Technologies has been a crucial provider of commercial satellite imagery for Ukrainian users, aiding in tracking Russian troop movements and assessing damage to strategic targets in both occupied territories and Russia itself. The company’s imagery has also been widely used by global media for documenting the progression of the war.
While the U.S. suspends military intelligence sharing with Ukraine, Russia appears to be leveraging commercial satellite imagery to aid its missile strikes. According to an investigation by The Atlantic, there is a pattern linking the purchase of satellite photos from Western providers to subsequent Russian attacks on Ukrainian targets.
A report by The Atlantic uncovered over 350 instances where satellite images of Ukrainian locations were purchased just days before those same locations were hit by Russian missiles.
The agency Molfar, specializing in intelligence analysis, conducted its own investigation and confirmed a strong correlation between these satellite purchases and Russian airstrikes.
In multiple cases, imagery of specific areas was bought, followed shortly with Russian missile strikes.One example cited in the investigation was a series of satellite image purchases of an airfield near Myrhorod.
Just a week later, Russian missiles struck the location. Similar patterns were observed before attacks on other targets in Lviv and Kyiv, according to The Atlantic.
Companies like Maxar and Planet, identified as potential sources of the images, claim they rigorously vet their customers and adhere to U.S. laws prohibiting business with Russia since February 2022.
Maxar has stated that it cut all ties with Russian organizations, including third-party resellers. Planet insists its images are provided only to responsible entities such as governments, humanitarian organizations, and media outlets.
Molfar analysts examined 321 cases of Russian missile strikes in Ukraine between February 24 and December 31, 2022. Their findings highlight a consistent pattern: satellite images of Ukrainian locations were frequently purchased just days before those same sites were targeted.
For their analysis, Molfar compared available satellite imagery with documented missile strikes, focusing on images obtained within a week before or after an attack. Their research revealed that in 277 out of 321 cases, satellite imagery had been ordered shortly before the strike.
During the early months of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the time gap between satellite image purchases and missile strikes averaged two to three days. This correlation weakened between April and May 2022 but reemerged strongly in July and August when Russia intensified its bombardments.
An important factor in Molfar’s analysis was the resolution and quality of the images. Photos with resolutions between 30 cm and 1 meter are particularly useful for planning missile strikes, as they provide detailed views of buildings, infrastructure, and vehicles on the ground.
Molfar also identified suspicious activity before key Russian strikes, including the attack on Lviv during President Biden’s visit to Poland in March 2022. In the days leading up to that strike, satellite images of military factories in Lviv were ordered.
The purchases were often made through third-party resellers and online marketplaces, making it difficult to trace the final buyer.
Earlier, reports emerged that the U.S. intelligence-sharing pause with Kyiv impacts early warnings about Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian military and civilian targets, making them vulnerable to Russian drone and missile strikes.
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