The US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) has confirmed a "temporary suspension" of Ukraine's access to commercial satellite imagery purchased by the US government, the Washington Post reported.
„The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency "temporarily suspended access" to a system that provides commercial satellite imagery purchased by the United States "in accordance with the administration's directive to support Ukraine," the publication writes.
According to it, US partners and allies receive access to images of the Earth's surface through the GEGD (Global Enhanced GEOINT Delivery) system. As the publication points out, the Ukrainian armed forces used satellite imagery to adjust artillery fire, as well as to identify priority targets for drones.
“The consequences of the suspension were immediately felt by Ukrainian army soldiers, some of whom called the decision a betrayal, not politics“, the newspaper writes.
Earlier, the Ukrainian portal "Military", citing sources, reported that the American aerospace company Maxar Technologies had cut off Ukraine's access to its satellite imagery. The portal notes that Maxar is the main supplier of commercial satellite imagery to the Ukrainian armed forces.
A spokesman for the US Department of Defense said that the Pentagon had received orders to suspend all assistance to Ukraine. As reported by Fox News journalist Jackie Heinrich, CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed the suspension of intelligence sharing between the United States and Ukraine.
Trump ordered the suspension of all military aid to Ukraine days after the White House dispute with Volodymyr Zelensky on February 28. The American leader's decision took effect on the morning of March 4. It applies to all US military equipment that is not currently in Ukraine, including weapons transported by planes and ships or awaiting subsequent delivery in transit zones in Poland.