The American company Maxar Technologies has cut off Ukraine's access to satellite imagery used to monitor Russian troop movements and document war crimes. As IZ reports with reference to AIN, Maxar has 90 satellites in orbit and cooperates with more than 50 governments, providing 90% of the geospatial intelligence used by the US government for national security. The company also has an archive of 125 petabytes of imagery used in digital maps and navigation services.
Maxar actively cooperates with the US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and in 2023 signed a contract for $ 200 million to supply satellite imagery to US allies. NGA plays a key role in coordinating geospatial intelligence for Ukraine and other allies after the beginning of Russian aggression. The agreement with NGA is part of an initiative to provide commercial satellite imagery to US partner countries.
Maxar satellite images were used to record the movement of Russian equipment and destruction in Ukraine. In particular, the famous images of the destroyed Drama Theater in Mariupol and columns of Russian equipment on the border with Ukraine. Maxar also recorded the consequences of strikes on facilities in Bakhmut, Soledar and other cities. The company's satellites have also been used in other conflicts, including Afghanistan and Syria.
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