The Russians are using images from American satellites to launch attacks on Ukrainian targets, reports the German television channel n-tv.
Satellite imagery serves both Russia and Ukraine to identify soldiers’ positions. Ukrainians believe Russia bases its airstrikes with guided bombs and cruise missiles on satellite imagery created by American companies. An unnamed Ukrainian military spokesman said the number of airstrikes based on US satellite imagery is so large that it cannot be considered a mere coincidence.
He added that a satellite takes pictures of one place, then the rocket crashes a few days or weeks later, and then more pictures are taken to check the extent of the damage. According to the report, archival satellite images with dates and coordinates show patterns suggesting that in hundreds of cases, Russian forces may have used imagery from American companies, sometimes purchasing them for as little as a few thousand euros.
In turn, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Katerina Chernorenko said that American satellite companies support Ukraine. However, her ministry’s experts suspect that Russia obtains satellite imagery through offshore companies that collaborate with Western satellite imagery companies, and that the imagery is used against Ukraine.
According to a report by The Atlantic, the satellite imagery also includes images of Planet and Maxar, two of the largest US companies, which have announced that they will cease all transactions with Russian entities or third parties selling goods to Russia in early March 2022. Planet said it limited the sharing of the images to “responsible parties such as governments, relief and relief organizations, and the media,” taking care to avoid potential misuse. The German publication believes that such high-precision images could still be obtained by Russian authorities through third parties.
Deployment of 23 @Starlink satellites confirmed following launch from Florida→ https://t.co/bJFjLCilmc pic.twitter.com/jhTaXV9N74
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) February 29, 2024
In the US, many accuse Elon Musk of being the main “transmitter” of satellite imagery for the Russians, because, according to them, he allows them to use Starlink. However, Musk’s company stated that it has nothing to do with such actions of the Russian Federation, since, according to them, it does not sell Starlink terminals to Russia.
The American billionaire’s company SpaceX has entered into a secret contract with the US intelligence agency and is building a network of hundreds of spy satellites. It will be called Starshield. Writes about this Reuters citing five knowledgeable sources. It signals deepening ties between Musk’s space company and national security agencies.
The network of satellites is being built under a $1.8 billion contract signed in 2021 with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), which operates spy satellites. NRO includes members of the US Space Force and the CIA, and provides classified satellite imagery to the Pentagon and other intelligence agencies.
The Pentagon is investing in large satellite systems in Earth orbit aimed at supporting ground forces. If successful, this satellite network program will greatly enhance the ability of the US government and military to quickly detect potential targets almost anywhere on the globe. “No one can hide,” one source said of the system’s potential.
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