The US aerospace company Maxar has cut Ukraine’s access to satellite images following an explosive row between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump, Kyiv military sources have claimed.
Several users of the service claimed they could no longer access battlefield images upon “administrative request” by Maxar, according to Ukrainian media.
Ukrainian news website Militarnyi reports the disconnection was the result of Trump stopping the flow of intelligence to Ukraine.
The satellite blackout applies to both government and personal users, the outlet reports.
Maxar has been approached for comment via email.
The firm has provided commercial satellite images for Ukrainian users showing the movement of Russian troops, and they’ve also been used to show the aftermath of attacks in the occupied territory and within Russia, the outlet reports.
These images have also been a key resource for analysts covering the conflict.
It follows the explosive bust-up between Trump and Zelensky in the Oval Office on Friday, with appearing to be visibly rattled as Zelensky sought to communicate the threat Putin poses to Europe and the US.
The meeting soon descended into chaos as Trump and his VP JD Vance berated Zelensky, accusing him of being ungrateful for the billions of dollars in aid that Washington has provided to Kyiv since Putin’s invasion began in February 2020.
The apparent ambush led to a planned press conference between the two leaders being cancleed, and a rare earth minerals deal that Ukraine hopes can sustain Trump’s interest in the war-torn nation plight left unsigned.
The following week, Trump demanded a halt to American military aid for Ukraine, a move that will have profound consequences for Kyiv’s resistance given Washington has been its largest single backer since the war began in February 2022.
The move prompted Zelensky to send a conciliatory message to Trump, reaffirming the thanks he has given to the US throughout the conflict and his desire for the minerals deal to be signed.
In a speech to Congress on Tuesday Trump said: “Earlier today, I received an important letter from President Zelensky of Ukraine.”
Quoting from the letter, Trump said the Ukrainian leader told him that “Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians.”
But on Thursday it was reported that the US had also paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine, which is thought to have led to the satellite images now being withheld.
The move cut off the flow of vital information that has helped the war-torn nation target Russian invaders, but Trump administration officials said Wednesday that positive talks between Washington and Kyiv mean it may only be a short suspension.