U.S. suspends commercial satellite imagery service to Ukraine

The United States has temporarily suspended satellite imagery services to Ukraine, a fresh blow to Kyiv from the Trump administration, which has frozen weapons shipments and intelligence sharing.

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency has “temporarily suspended access” to the system that provides commercial satellite imagery purchased by the United States “in accordance with the administration’s directive on support to Ukraine,” the agency said in a statement.

U.S. partners and allies use the system to access the imagery through its orbital imaging services known as Global Enhanced GEOINT Delivery. U.S. officials said the suspension affected multiple companies that deliver imagery through the program.

Artillery and drone units study the images to assess quality targets and review the damage to refine the attacks. A constant refresh of satellite imagery helps commanders and soldiers keep tabs on where enemy positions and depots are, making it easier to find vulnerabilities and troop movements. And they help logistics soldiers plan vehicle routes, with alternative corridors laid out if pathways are mined or destroyed.

The suspension was immediately felt by soldiers in the Ukrainian military, some of whom described the decision as treachery, not politics.

Ukraine can still access such imagery with its own purchased accounts.

Maxar, a leading U.S. provider of commercial satellite imagery, said its services for Ukraine were affected by that decision by the Trump administration.