Russians buy satellite photos from US providers from the USA - investigation - investigation

Although US companies assure that they have not cooperated with Russia since February 2022, anyone can buy satellite images of Ukraine. In March, journalists of the American magazine The Atlantic wrote about a possible connection between selling satellite shots by commercial aerospace companies and Russia's missile strokes in Ukraine. That is, first the sale of satellite photos of a certain plot in the territory of Ukraine is sold, and within a few days a Russian rocket arrives there.

The Molfar Humint analytics checked how and to whom the companies that claim the alleged careful customer check, provided their satellite images. Molfar analysts analyzed 321 cases of Russian rocket strokes in Ukraine, which took place from February 24 to December 31, 2022, including images of territories where there are no active fighting.

In the first stage, the Molfar analytics sorted the dates (taken one week before the impact), the second factor was the location where the satellite photo was taken. Statistics on relatively "peaceful" areas will be indicative. That is, where there are no active fighting. Analysts managed to access a large number of space pictures: Planet is an American company that specializes in land removal with satellites. Provides data for monitoring changes on a global scale.

Maxar Technologies is a leading provider of aerospace products and services, including highly identified images of land. 21at (Twenty First Aerospace Technology) is a Chinese space company that provides satellite images. CNSA (China National Space Administration) is a Chinese national space agency responsible for China's space program. Satellogic is an Argentine company that launches satellites for high -resolution land removal.

Kari (Korea Aerospace Research Institute) is a South Korean State Institute that engages in aerospace research. Kazakhstan Gharyshsh Sapary (Kazcosmos) is a National Space Agency of Kazakhstan, which coordinates space projects and research. Chang Guang Satellite Technology (CGST) is a Chinese company specializing in satellite development and satellite images. Siis (Si Imaging Services) is a South Korean company that deals with geospatial data and images of the Earth.

Spacewill is a Chinese company that provides satellite data and land observation solutions. Imagesat International (ISI) is an Israeli company that offers satellite images for military and civilian purposes. Capella is an American company that specializes in radar images of land using synthetic aperture (SAR). For example, on October 10, 2022, Russian troops struck one of the most massive rocket strokes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, using Shahd-136 UAVs and missiles.

The attack damaged 11 important objects in 8 regions and in the capital. For three weeks before the blow, as analysts note, someone ordered Maxar 6 satellite images that included the lesion area. On March 26, 2022, the Russians destroyed the tank -building plant and oil depot in Lviv with two rockets.

8 satellite images, which were hit by the coordinates of the impact, were ordered by Beijing Space View Tech and 21at a few days before the attack, March 23-25, and two more pictures two days after the impact, March 28. As noted in The Atlantic, American satellite providers assure that they have not sell pictures to Russian buyers since February 2022.

But the Molfar Agency Humint, having introduced themselves to Kazakhstan's representatives, checked whether they could buy photos through their distributors. And, as it turned out during the experiment, if you use a false name, name and corporate mail and contact resellers from other countries, there will be no checks from US providers. That is, Ukrainian researchers have found that satellite images can be used to pre -explore the goals and adjust further strokes.