Maxar limits free satellite image access in Ukraine while keeping paid services active

Defense Express reported the information.

The policy change by Maxar, one of the leading providers of high-resolution satellite images, has primarily affected OSINT communities.

Despite some reports claiming that the American company Maxar has completely restricted access to its satellite imagery in Ukraine, this is not entirely accurate.

Defense Express reached out to Maxar’s official distributor in Ukraine, the company TVIS, which specializes in the commercial supply of satellite images. According to TVIS, the restriction has not affected authorized Ukrainian users of Maxar, who can still order paid services from the American company. This means that satellite images of any location, including Ukraine and Russia, are still available for purchase.

At the same time, TVIS emphasized that they only handle commercial orders and do not have information about whether Maxar provides satellite data to Ukraine’s security forces through U.S. government funding.

Defense Express also noted that the first reports about Maxar restricting access came from the OSINT community CyberBoroshno, which later confirmed that only free access had been cut off.

As of the time of publication, Maxar has not officially commented on its policy change. Maxar's satellite constellation for Earth remote sensing consists of 10 satellites: WorldView-1,2,3 (resolution between 31-50 cm per pixel), GeoEye-1 (41 cm per pixel), and six WorldView Legion satellites (34 cm per pixel).

Maxar is not the only provider of satellite imagery, as similar services are available from Airbus (Europe), ICEYE (Finland), and other companies. Additionally, some countries have confirmed they will continue to provide intelligence support to Ukraine, including France, which operates its own reconnaissance satellite system.

• Earlier, media reports said that the American aerospace company Maxar Technologies has cut access to its satellite images for Ukrainian users.