UA
  • News
  • Popular
  • Search
  • Apps
download white apps
Download

Ukraine in intelligence battle: increasing reliance on space

global.espreso.tv
Wed, 08 Oct 2025 14:23:00 +0300
Ukraine in intelligence battle: increasing reliance on space
ContentsHow Russian-Chinese synergy in intelligence is ensured and supportedU.S. support for Ukraine: strong assistance, but everything depends on political circumstancesUkrainian capabilities: what exists and what is lackingRussian drone and missile strikes on key Ukrainian targets are predictably intensifying. Assumptions that Russia could produce around 6,000 drones per month, such as Shahed, Gerber, and other variants, are becoming a reality. Similarly, so far ineffective sanctions allow Russia to regularly replenish its missile arsenals. Under these conditions, rapidly updating intelligence on targets in Ukraine becomes critically important for Russia. Dozens of Russian agents detained by the SBU each month clearly play a key role in gathering intelligence. However, it is clear that human intelligence alone does not solve all problems; it must be supplemented by electronic and space-based data. What capabilities does Russia have today in this regard, and on whom can it rely in the Russian-Ukrainian confrontation? The answer is known: China.How Russian-Chinese synergy in intelligence is ensured and supportedAt the beginning of October, it was reported that during the massive drone and missile strikes on Lviv and other cities in western Ukraine, at least three Chinese military satellites were observed passing over the area. These satellites could have collected intelligence on targets in Ukraine’s western regions and transmitted it to Russia. The Chinese satellites made several passes over Lviv Oblast during the strikes on October 5. Although China has not commented on this information and Moscow is pretending nothing happened, it was clearly not a “coincidence.”How extensive is China’s support to Russia in intelligence, and what capabilities does Beijing currently have in this field?Over the past two decades, China has built a multi-layered system of reconnaissance satellites. The Yaogan series includes optical reconnaissance, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and radio/electronic components. In 2023–2024, China added the Yaogan-41 satellite in geostationary orbit with a powerful optical system, as well as new batches of low-orbit satellites for high-frequency imaging. The commercial segment, primarily CGSTL with its Jilin-1 satellite group, actively conducts remote sensing of the Earth’s surface and is partially integrated with the state sector.The U.S. has already noted the transfer of satellite information from China to Russia, imposing sanctions in 2023 on Spacety Luxembourg SA, a subsidiary of the Chinese company Spacety. Spacety provided satellite imagery over Ukraine to the Russian company Terra Tech. According to U.S. sources, these images were subsequently used by Wagner PMC units in operations in Donbas. In April 2025, the U.S. accused the Chinese company Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co. Ltd (CGSTL) of providing intelligence data to the Houthis.Russia currently operates about 160 active satellites, of which up to 100 perform military functions, such as providing navigation via the GLONASS system and conducting satellite reconnaissance with the "Persona" series. However, the collaboration between Russia and China clearly produces a synergistic effect for the two countries of the "axis of evil" — they gain better military navigation, improved communications, and higher-quality, wider coverage of the Earth's surface for collecting intelligence, including for target designation to carry out strikes.U.S. support for Ukraine: strong assistance, but everything depends on political circumstancesSince 2022 Ukraine has been building its satellite-reconnaissance capabilities based on information from the U.S. and other NATO allies, albeit with regular political and technical caveats. The years 2022–2024 gave Ukraine unprecedented access to satellite data: direct purchases of commercial SAR (an ICEYE deal via the Serhiy Prytula Foundation that funded a “Ukrainian” satellite and access to the whole constellation), funding for commercial imagery in U.S. aid packages, and integration of intelligence into our combat-management systems. In March 2025 the U.S. abruptly “paused” intelligence sharing and access to commercial imagery channels (GEGD/Maxar), which negatively affected our ability to plan and execute deep strikes into Russian territory. Although the U.S. later resumed transfers, the episode exposed our vulnerability from dependence on Washington. At present our partners provide us with critically important satellite information, but its dependence on political moods and financial instruments makes it necessary to build Ukraine’s own backbone of space-based intelligence.Ukrainian capabilities: what exists and what is lackingUkraine has been able to integrate the flow of partner-provided information into combat cycles and use it effectively to strike enemy targets. However, without resilient, sovereign access to space-based intelligence, the Defence Forces of Ukraine cannot fully realise the potential of existing and future precision weapons, operational-tactical coordination, and strategic deterrence. In other words, Ukraine needs to build a comprehensive space infrastructure that would include national orbital launch systems, an on-orbit constellation, ground complexes, and an appropriate legal and regulatory framework. Such a system could provide command-and-control and communications, navigation, intelligence, target designation, and effectively the full-cycle support for force employment on the modern battlefield. Of course, a fully fledged infrastructure of this kind requires colossal resources, and prioritising investment in space infrastructure demands separate analysis and broad public discussion.In his recent article, General Zaluzhnyi states that space must quickly become another domain where Ukraine needs to achieve key technological advances. “It’s time to look to space, because the only way today to reach the required level of security is through technological superiority in all domains,” the general believes.Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, photo: gettyimagesIn his view, the decision to establish the Space Forces by December 31, 2025, as outlined in the government’s program, is belated but still relevant. Zaluzhnyi highlights several aspects that should be considered when shaping state policy in the field of space technologies.Specifically, the general speaks about granting the Armed Forces their own functions for strategic-level intelligence activity. Although one can argue with the general on this point, given that those functions are assigned to the Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence (HUR) and, if necessary (for example, if the scope of space intelligence is to be expanded), they can be implemented by creating (or strengthening) the appropriate units within the unified structure of Ukraine’s military intelligence. This would also apply when using weapons systems that require intelligence support and strategic-level planning. At the same time, it is certainly possible to agree that creating a corresponding strategic-level management element in the field of space intelligence — including for operational information exchange and use — is clearly timely.Zaluzhnyi also speaks about the need to develop a space-support strategy that will allow Ukraine in the future to possess its own constellation of spacecraft and ground equipment — not only to build an observation system, but also navigation and meteorological support and its own satellite communications system.In General Zaluzhnyi’s view, treating space as a path to operational advantage means the Space Forces must be guaranteed the full spectrum of capabilities.“We need to provide for the creation of a single, rigid command structure for space activities with minimal influence from external actors. This means establishing regulatory mechanisms from the outset, which are impossible without reforming the legal framework, or else they will resemble the attempts to create Cyber Forces, which never fully integrated into the previously distributed domain,” asserts Valeriy Zaluzhnyi.In his view, creating a clear command structure for managing processes and using existing streams of partner-provided information should be the main focus for the new Space Forces. The transition to forming an indigenous constellation of spacecraft and other resource‑intensive components should proceed gradually, as resilient cooperation with international partners and an internal system for using current capabilities at both operational and strategic levels are secured.Overall, against the backdrop of the China-Russia space duo, which is already directly threatening Ukraine and NATO through the joint use of military satellites for targeting missile and drone strikes, the creation of Ukraine’s own Space Forces with the corresponding infrastructure appears not only logical but urgent. Developing an integrated system for acquiring and utilizing space-based intelligence for operational and strategic purposes will provide Ukraine with new capabilities and significantly greater resilience against Russian aggression. At the same time, the expected complexity and obvious resource demands of this process require maintaining and expanding cooperation with the U.S. and European partners in space intelligence. Moreover, the potential for joint projects with EU countries could become a new avenue of effort for Ukraine in this domain.This material was prepared in collaboration with the Defense Information Consortium (CDI), a project that unites Ukrainian analytical and research organizations and is aimed at strengthening information support and analytical capacity in the fields of national security, defense, and geopolitics.
Read in full

Latest news

Crimean prosecutors urge residents to report Russian war crimes
Crimean prosecutors urge residents to report Russian war crimes
The Prosecutors Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol and the Representation of the President of Ukraine in the autonomy presented the first informational video of...
en.interfax.com.ua
Wed, 08 Oct 2025 16:28:48 +0300
Ukrainian Su-27 destroys occupiers’ command post in Bakhmut with high-precision GBU-62 bomb. VIDEO
Ukrainian Su-27 destroys occupiers’ command post in Bakhmut with high-precision GBU-62 bomb. VIDEO
A Ukrainian Su- pilot destroyed the occupiers command post in Bakhmut with a GBU- precision bomb.
censor.net
Wed, 08 Oct 2025 16:26:00 +0300
Not words, but actions: Trump administration keeps weakening Russia by backing Ukraine
Not words, but actions: Trump administration keeps weakening Russia by backing Ukraine
It is worth noting that military-technical support for Ukraine has not ceased for a single day, despite relevant statements by White House representatives and media reports. This includes intellige...
global.espreso.tv
Wed, 08 Oct 2025 16:21:00 +0300
Yermak announces return of two families under Bring Kids Back UA initiative
Yermak announces return of two families under Bring Kids Back UA initiative
Two Ukrainian families with three children and teenagers left for the government-controlled territory of Ukraine from the temporarily occupied territories TOT as part of the initiative of the Pre...
en.interfax.com.ua
Wed, 08 Oct 2025 16:15:20 +0300
Head of Poland’s National Security Bureau opposes extradition of Ukrainian suspected in Nord Stream blasts
Head of Poland’s National Security Bureau opposes extradition of Ukrainian suspected in Nord Stream blasts
Head of Polands National Security Bureau, Sawomir Cenckiewicz, believes the country should not extradite Ukrainian citizen Volodymyr Zhuravlov, who is suspected of involvement in the sabotage of ...
censor.net
Wed, 08 Oct 2025 16:15:00 +0300
EU sees new US trade demands as maximalist - Bloomberg
EU sees new US trade demands as maximalist - Bloomberg
European Union representatives believe that new US demands for trade concessions and other measures could undermine the recent agreement aimed at preventing a trade war.
censor.net
Wed, 08 Oct 2025 16:15:00 +0300
UINP Chairman Alferov supports renaming 'kopiikas' to 'shags'
UINP Chairman Alferov supports renaming 'kopiikas' to 'shags'
The head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance UINP, Oleksandr Alferov, has said that the name of the unit of exchange shag has been used in the territory of present-day Ukraine si...
en.interfax.com.ua
Wed, 08 Oct 2025 16:13:33 +0300
Switzerland will no longer grant protection status to Ukrainians from seven western oblasts
Switzerland will no longer grant protection status to Ukrainians from seven western oblasts
Switzerland has decided to restrict the granting of protection status Status S to Ukrainian refugees from seven western oblasts of Ukraine starting November.Source SRF, as reported by ...
www.pravda.com.ua
Wed, 08 Oct 2025 16:12:00 +0300
The European Commission files a lawsuit against Poland — what happened?
The European Commission files a lawsuit against Poland — what happened?
The European Commission announced its decision regarding PolandThe ECs official statement says that it has decided to refer the case against Poland to the Court of Justice of the EU amid Wars...
news.online.ua
Wed, 08 Oct 2025 16:10:21 +0300
Winter Pumpkin Puree
Winter Pumpkin Puree
This delightful winter pumpkin puree recipe is a perfect way to preserve the flavors of fall. By transforming fresh pumpkin into a smooth and creamy puree, you can enjoy the rich taste of pumpkin t...
toastpad.com
Wed, 08 Oct 2025 16:10:20 +0300
додати ще новини more news

Top news

Destruction of "Solntsepyok" launcher: National Guard disables Russia’s costly weapon system. VIDEO
Destruction of "Solntsepyok" launcher: National Guard disables Russia’s costly weapon system. VIDEO
Putin on start of war against Ukraine: "It was right and timely decision"
Russia attacks Ukraine with strike drones – Air Force
Zelenskyy dismisses Ukraine’s Ambassador to Latvia Kutsevol
Serbia to continue talks with Russia on situation around NIS on which USA imposing sanctions
  • About us
  • Contacts
  • Rules of use
  • Apps