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2026-04-07 15:08:00
[Ukraine Claims Russia Provided Satellite Imagery and Cyber Support to Iran, Enhancing Its Strike Capabilities] 1. Ukrainian intelligence assessments indicate that Russian satellites conducted dozens of detailed image surveys of military facilities in multiple Middle Eastern countries to assist Iran in striking US forces and other targets. Between March 21 and 31, Russian satellites conducted at least 24 surveys of 24 locations in 11 Middle Eastern countries, covering 46 targets, including US military bases, airports, and oil fields. 2. The assessment points out that within days of the surveys, these bases became targets of Iranian missiles and drones, forming a clear pattern. Western and regional security sources confirmed that Russia's satellite activity in the region was frequent and that it shared imagery with Iran. The surveys covered Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Jordan, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain, and Diego Garcia. 3. The assessment also states that a permanent communication channel exists between Russia and Iran for exchanging satellite imagery, and Russian military spies stationed in Tehran may also have been involved. Specific events disclosed last week by Ukrainian President Zelensky—Russian satellites taking images before the Iranian attack on a Saudi airbase and assessing damage afterward—have been confirmed by regional security sources. 4. In the cyber domain, Ukraine has assessed that since late February, Iranian-controlled hacking groups have intensified their attacks on critical infrastructure and telecommunications companies in the Gulf region, with some of the techniques they employ appearing to originate from Russian military intelligence hackers. Iranian hackers are using Russian VPN providers to register domain names.
