Russia obtains Chinese satellite imagery of Ukrainian territory via a network of commercial intermediaries, reports *Il Giornale*, citing journalistic investigations. In 2025, more than 80% images with a resolution of less than one metre, sold on the Russian commercial market, originated from the Jilin-1 constellation. Such data can be used for military reconnaissance.
Briefly about the main points
- Chinese satellite data is supplied to Russia via private intermediaries.
- Most high-resolution commercial satellite images of Russia are associated with Jilin-1.
- Chaohu-1 provides radar surveillance at night and in cloudy conditions.
- The US imposed sanctions on Spacety China and Terra Tech back in 2023.
- Ukraine has reached an agreement with Nokia and ICEYE regarding satellite communications.
Detailed images can be used to locate objects and monitor movements
According to the investigations, high-resolution Chinese imagery can be used to identify military targets, track the movements of military equipment and assess the consequences of strikes. At the same time, it is impossible to establish a direct link between each image purchased and a specific Russian attack.
The origin of the data is not always clear to the buyer: private companies may sell imagery under different names. This makes it difficult to trace the supply chain and identify the original satellite operator.
The Chaohu-1 is marketed in Russia under the name Elsat-1
One example is the Chinese radar satellite Chaohu-1, developed by Spacety. On the Russian market, its imagery is marketed as Elsat-1 through the companies L5 and SCANEX, which, according to published data, can deliver the information to customers within a few hours.
Journalists identified the satellite by its alternative trade name, having compared its technical specifications, orbital data and company documentation. This arrangement enables satellite data to be sold through the commercial sector.
Radar technology enables surveillance without the need for daylight
In detailed observation mode, Chaohu-1 produces images with a resolution of up to one metre. In ScanSAR mode, it covers a swath up to 170 kilometres wide.
The device uses SAR technology, which enables it to capture images at night and in heavy cloud cover. As a result, observations are not affected by lighting conditions or most weather conditions.
There are other organisations operating in the Russian market, and the US has already imposed sanctions
The «New Cosmos» group offers radar images obtained from Chinese satellites. The defence contractor «Stilsoft» uses Chinese optical platforms known as «Stilsat-1», whilst «Novy Start», which had announced plans to establish its own constellation, has acknowledged that it initially used Chinese radar antennas.
In January 2023 US Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on Spacety China and the Russian company Terra Tech. Washington linked these companies to the transfer of radar imagery of Ukraine to support the operations of the «Wagner» group. Moscow and Beijing deny any direct cooperation in military intelligence operations against Ukraine.
Ukraine is developing a satellite communications system in collaboration with Nokia and ICEYE
Separately, in October, the Russian satellite «Kosmos-2612» came close to the ICEYE-X36 spacecraft, which could potentially provide Ukraine with intelligence data. According to LeoLabs, the manoeuvre began on 15 October, and the following day the distance between the satellites decreased from 350 to less than five kilometres. Various estimates put the minimum distance at between 26 and 500 metres; the purpose of the approach is unknown.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence has signed a memorandum with the Finnish companies Nokia and ICEYE on the development of a satellite communications system for defence purposes. According to the Chief Executive Officer ICEYE Rafał Modzewski, the system must provide a secure connection under Ukrainian control, independent of any disruptions to ground-based infrastructure.
