Russia is conducting satellite surveillance of the US and Middle East states' military and energy facilities, said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Qatar. It may indicate preparation for possible attacks, per UkrInform.
Double standards: benefits for aggressor for its war
“Frankly, it’s strange: sanctions are being lifted, and the aggressor provides information to strike targets, including countries that are lifting sanctions or talking about lifting them,” Zelenskyy said.
Daily intelligence reports track Russian satellite activity
Zelenskyy noted he receives daily data from Ukrainian intelligence. In particular, he shared information from a morning briefing regarding Russian satellite activity. The President noted that Russian satellites conducted surveillance of US military facilities in the Middle East in Russia’s interests.
“On 24 March, they imaged the joint US-British military base Diego Garcia on the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean. According to our estimates, the preliminary imaging took place on 19 January,” he said.
Next, the Russians imaged Kuwait International Airport and part of the Great Burgan oil field. On 25 March, they photographed Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
“We have recorded that previously they conducted imaging on 20 and 23 March,” he stated.
On 26 March, the Russians carried out reconnaissance of the Shaybah oil and gas field (Saudi Arabia), Incirlik Air Base (Turkiye), Al-Udeid Air Base (Qatar), and also photographed something in the city of Haifa, though precise details are unavailable.
“By lifting sanctions on an aggressor who earns money every day and provides information about attacks on American, Middle Eastern, and US-British bases, who is really helping whom?” he asked.
Repeated imaging of strategic sites signals planning for specific attacks
Zelenskyy emphasized that Russians always conduct imaging in preparation for strikes.
“When objects are being imaged in Ukraine, we know they must be protected because an operation to destroy those targets, energy and water supply, military facilities, is being prepared,” he said.
In his words, “everyone knows why the imaging is happening, why repeated imaging occurs.”
“If the Russians are doing this, how can sanctions be lifted?” he asked.
Earlier, an Iranian strike on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on Friday injured 12 US service members, two of them seriously, as per The New York Times.
