The Trump administration has reportedly suspended Ukraine’s access to high-resolution satellite imagery from U.S. aerospace company Maxar Technologies, limiting Kyiv’s ability to track Russian troop movements and battlefield conditions.
Maxar confirmed on Friday that the U.S. government ordered the suspension of Ukrainian accounts under the Global Enhanced GEOINT Delivery (GEGD) program, which provides commercial satellite images collected by the U.S. military. “The U.S. government has decided to temporarily suspend Ukrainian accounts in GEGD,” Maxar said in a statement, adding that other customers remain unaffected.
Maxar’s statement on media reports regarding access rights to Maxar imagery:
Maxar has contracts with the U.S. government and dozens of allied and partner nations around the world to provide satellite imagery and other geospatial data. Each customer makes their own decisions on…
— Maxar Technologies (@Maxar) March 7, 2025
Ukraine has relied on satellite images to prepare for Russian attacks and assess damage to infrastructure. The restriction comes after the U.S. also halted intelligence sharing with Ukraine on March 5, a move confirmed by CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
The loss of access weakens Ukraine’s ability to anticipate missile strikes. Hours after the intelligence cutoff, Russian forces launched a missile attack on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih, killing four people and injuring more than 30.
Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on March 6 that Kyiv is exploring alternative intelligence-sharing options, including cooperation with European countries.
It is uncertain if other U.S. satellite providers, such as Planet Labs, BlackSky, and Capella Space, will continue supplying images to Ukraine.
Ukraine’s cyber community Cyberboroshno reported that while free access to satellite data has been cut, private companies may still be able to buy pre-ordered images from other providers.
With U.S. support shifting, Ukraine is now looking for new ways to gather intelligence as it continues to defend itself against Russian attacks.
