During the operation of the purchased “people’s satellite”, the Ukrainian military took 5,200 pictures, of which 1,000 – only in the last six months. According to the spokesman for the GUR Andriy Yusov, more than 40% of the photos were used for combat damage, and the enemy suffered losses of billions of dollars. The presence of its own satellite intelligence, and even from a European developer (Finnish ICEYE), became especially relevant against the background of the suspension of American military assistance, which includes the exchange of intelligence data.
🗣 ICEYE has its own representative office in Ukraine, which constantly provides support and monitors the quality of photos. Cooperation with the Ukrainian military also helps the Finnish company develop its own technologies. Ukraine has two ICEYE satellites at its disposal. The first was purchased for UAH 600 million with donations from Ukrainians. The second was purchased with funds from Rheinmetall and the German government. It is also important that the company provides Ukrainian intelligence with the opportunity to take pictures from all its satellites.
🗣 One example of operations involving these satellites is the sinking of the large landing ship Minsk and the submarine Rostov-on-Don in the bay of Sevastopol. Currently, the GUR uses ICEYE satellites not only for reconnaissance of objects in the territories of Russia and the occupied part of Ukraine, but also in the territories of other countries.
🗣 Journalists noted that in July 2024, the Ministry of Defense signed a memorandum with ICEYE to deepen cooperation in the field of space intelligence. Given the technological development of Finnish satellites in the direction of military intelligence, the Defense Forces will have a reliable partner for obtaining intelligence even in the event of the termination of American assistance.
👉🔗More details in the material “Economic Truth”
Photo source: Photos provided by the GUR for the exhibition of the Prytula Foundation “People’s Satellite” at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine
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