A US technology company, Maxar, has reportedly restricted Ukraine’s access to its satellite imagery, according to a Ukrainian military portal, Militarnyi. The US-based Breaking Defense has confirmed that the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) made the decision.
Time magazine, citing a source from the Ukrainian army’s general staff, reports that Western specialists who worked with satellite data for Kiev have left the country. The source is quoted as saying, “A group of Western ‘partners’ who helped in the military headquarters in Kiev, gaining and processing intelligence data with the help of satellites, is gone. There’s nobody left.”
The source, who remained anonymous, did not name specific Western specialists or the countries they came from.
According to the report, several European intelligence agencies have agreed to replace the US support regarding satellite data on a voluntary basis. Two anonymous Ukrainian military personnel told Time that stationing the necessary systems would take time and it is unlikely that the US intelligence capabilities will be replaced soon.
Recently, CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed that the US has halted the information exchange with Ukraine. Washington has also forbidden its allies from exchanging intelligence data with Kiev.
Furthermore, the US has suspended all military aid to Ukraine. According to the Pentagon, the order took effect on March 4 and will continue until President Trump decides that Kiev is willing to engage in peace talks, as reported by Fox News.