Cutting Satellite Imagery ‘Weakens’ Ukraine’s Defenses: Lawmaker
- The US paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine and cut its access to satellite imagery this week.
- A Ukrainian lawmaker told BI that it will leave Kyiv dangerously vulnerable to Russian air attacks.
- The moves follow the Trump administration’s decision to pause military aid to Ukraine.
KYIV, Ukraine — President Donald Trump’s decision to sever critical assistance this week hurts Ukraine’s ability to see the battlefield clearly, leaving it in the dark on larger Russian troop movements and vulnerable to bombardment.
The US pause on intelligence sharing and restrictions on Ukraine’s access to crucial satellite imagery is expected to seriously impact the country’s ability to defend against Russian missile attacks, a Ukrainian lawmaker told Business Insider in Kyiv on Friday.
Serhiy Rakhmanin, a member of Ukraine’s parliamentary committee on national security, defense, and intelligence, said that this decision will also impact Kyiv’s ability to monitor Russian troop and equipment movement in the rear.
Being able to see shifts in the battle lines and buildups is crucial to mounting a proper defense. Intel and satellite imagery also enable deep offensive strikes.
US officials confirmed earlier in the week that Washington had stopped sharing intelligence with Kyiv. The move followed Trump’s decision to pause the flow of military aid to the war-torn country after a deeply contentious Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhiy Lysak via AP
Then, on Friday, the Trump administration suspended access to satellite imagery by Ukrainian accounts. Maxar, a leading US satellite imaging company that provides services to Kyiv, said that it was affected by the move.
Weapons get the most attention, but intel is vital. “Intelligence is one of the most important things that Ukraine has received from the United States,” said Rakhmanin, who spoke to BI through a translator. He added that “the most sensitive issue” for Kyiv is the ban on using satellite data.
“This creates problems, particularly in obtaining information about missile attacks. It significantly weakens the capabilities of the air defense system,” Rakhmanin said. “The United States has provided information obtained from satellites, including Maxar data.”
Maxar is contracted with the Global Enhanced GEOINT Delivery (GEGD) system, a major portal that can share access to US-purchased commercial satellite imagery with allies and partners. The company said that the American government had temporarily suspended Ukrainian accounts in GEGD.
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, which is part of the Department of Defense, confirmed the move and said that it acted “in accordance” with the Trump administration’s orders.
Satellite image (c) 2023 Maxar Technologies.
Access to satellite imagery is important for Ukraine, as it allows the country to plan strikes, track Russian military activities, and assess damage to infrastructure. It also gives the world unprecedented visual access to the three-year-long conflict.
The full extent of the US pause to intelligence sharing and military aid is unclear, but Ukrainian lawmakers and officials like Rakhmanin are hopeful that Kyiv’s booming defense industry and European countries could help to fill some of the gaps in both spaces.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, told BI earlier this week that the US aid freeze could most crucially affect his country’s air defenses. Insufficient interceptor missiles, coupled with a limit on Kyiv’s ability to properly collect information about air attacks, could be a severe issue in defending cities from Russia.
“The restriction on intelligence is particularly problematic in countering missile attacks, monitoring the Black and Azov seas, and tracking troop and equipment movements deep within Russian
territory,” Rakhmanin said.
The Trump administration’s approach to the war in Ukraine has so far been drastically different from that of the Biden administration, which pledged more than $65 billion in security assistance after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky
Trump officials have expressed skepticism about continued US support for Ukraine, with the president pushing for a swift end to the war, even if it’s a poor deal for Kyiv.
At the end of February, tensions boiled over after Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Zelenskyy at the White House over peace talks with Russia on unfavorable terms. The US then abruptly moved to pressure Kyiv by pausing military aid and intelligence sharing.
Conflict experts at the Institute for the Study of War, a US-based think tank, warned on Friday that Moscow will likely take advantage of Trump’s decision and intensify its strike campaign against Kyiv. Officials said on Saturday that Russian attacks killed at least 20 people overnight.
“For front-line and near-front-line operations, we can still manage without US support,” Rakhmanin said, “but for more strategic efforts, their role remains crucial.”
