The Wagner Group is a Russian private military company (PMC) that has acted as a tool for Russian foreign policy. While not directly involved in space technology development, it has been known to purchase satellite imagery for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) purposes to support its military operations in regions like Ukraine, Syria, and Africa. In one instance, the Wagner Group acquired high-resolution observation satellites from a Chinese company, Chang Guang Satellite Technology (CGST), to monitor battlefields and areas of interest. The group's activities are linked to geopolitical repositioning, undermining Western interests, and securing strategic resources.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
The United States sanctioned Changguang Satellite Technology Co Ltd in 2023 for allegedly selling imagery to Russia’s Wagner Group.
On August 14, 2025, Andriy Baranovych confirmed on a podcast that UCA disguised its hack as if it was conducted by the Wagner Group.
The U.S. imposed sanctions earlier 2023 on Spacety for alleged supply of synthetic aperture radar imagery of locations in Ukraine to Wagner Group.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned Spacety China for supplying Russia’s Wagner Group with radar satellite imagery of Ukraine to support Wagner Group combat operations.
The U.S. sanctioned Spacety for allegedly supplying Russia’s Wagner Group with SAR imagery to support its operations in Ukraine.
Spacety was sanctioned by the U.S. for allegedly supplying Russia’s Wagner Group with SAR imagery to support its operations in Ukraine.
The U.S. sanctioned Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute, also known as Spacety, for allegedly supplying Russia’s Wagner Group with radar satellite imagery of Ukraine.
The U.S. Treasury Department designated the Wagner Group as a transnational criminal organization on 2023-01-26.