A Chinese company collaborated with the Wagner Group's objectives by granting it unprecedented intelligence power through the sale of two high-resolution satellites belonging to the Chinese space giant Chang Guang Satellite Technology (CGST).
According to a document obtained by the Agence France-Presse ( AFP ) news agency, the Russian mercenary group signed a contract with the Chinese company Beijing Yunze Technology. The agreement not only allowed Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the group, to acquire two satellites for 30 million dollars but also gave him the possibility of obtaining additional satellite images of a network belonging to the Chinese operator CGST, which manages around 100 satellites.
The contract was signed by Ivan Mechetin, director of a subsidiary that was part of Prigozhin's business empire in late 2022 (a few months after Russia invaded Ukraine) and remains active today.
Reports suggest that Wagner used these satellites to obtain images to help the group with its operations in Africa, Ukraine and even Moscow. It should be noted that although the contract does not refer to the commissioning of images of Russian territory, the report indicates that Wagner allegedly requested data from Russia in May 2023, before the mutiny that Prigozhin carried out.
BREAKING: Chinese firm sold satellites for intelligence to Russia’s Wagner: contract seen by AFPhttps://t.co/InFest9CZI
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) October 5, 2023
US aware of providing images to Wagner
Earlier this year, the White House announced it would place Beijing Yunze Technology and Head Aerospace Technology on the sanctions list. Precisely for supporting the Wagner Group in combat operations by providing satellite images.
“These companies significantly contribute to Russia's military and/or defense industrial base and are involved in activities contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests,” the Commerce Department said.
