Ukraine can rely on alternative satellite imagery after U.S. intelligence cutoff — NYT

The publication underscored that the U.S. ban on sharing intelligence with Ukraine is designed to pressure President Volodymyr Zelenskyy into cooperating with Donald Trump’s administration on a ceasefire deal — an approach that conveniently aligns with Russia’s long-standing objectives.

A U.S. official confirmed that intelligence on military targets is no longer being transferred to Ukraine. The pause has also affected certain data related to early warnings about Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukraine’s military and civilian infrastructure.

"Everything coming from the Department of Defense has been halted," Valerii Kondratiuk, former head of Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR), explained.

"This primarily concerns image-sharing. While European companies have their own satellites, not all of them are focused on tracking military movements and deployments, which is crucial."

At the same time, the NYT noted that the CIA maintains a significant presence in Ukraine, assisting in identifying Russian targets. Some CIA officers are stationed at Ukrainian bases, where they cross-check target lists against U.S. intelligence to verify their accuracy before Ukrainian strikes.

"The CIA has also helped Ukraine establish at least three secret intelligence-gathering bases used to intercept Russian communications, reducing Kyiv’s dependence on U.S. intelligence data," the journalists wrote.

Some U.S. officials told NYT they hope the pause in intelligence sharing will be brief and will not have a major operational impact. However, a senior Trump administration official admitted that the initial plan was to suspend military and intelligence cooperation for a week or two as part of a pressure campaign against Zelenskyy.

On March 3, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a halt to military aid for Ukraine following a tense exchange with President Zelenskyy at the White House. Washington justified the move by claiming that Ukraine’s partners should "share Trump’s vision for peace" — a phrase that effectively shifts the burden onto Ukraine.

According to Bloomberg, the aid freeze includes all U.S. military equipment that has not yet arrived in Ukraine, including weapons transported by air and sea and those now in transit hubs in Poland.

On March 5, Financial Times, citing officials, confirmed that the U.S. is halting intelligence-sharing with Ukraine as part of its broader freeze on military assistance. Later, the CIA officially confirmed that intelligence transfers had indeed been suspended — an unprecedented move that undermines Ukraine’s defense efforts just as Russian forces intensify their assaults.