While Washington lifts sanctions, Moscow spies on US bases for Iran — Zelenskyy
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (photo: Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia has been collecting imagery of US military bases for Iran, even as Washington moves to ease sanctions on Moscow.
Ukraine's leader noted that even when he is beyond the country, he receives daily real-time intelligence briefings.
"This morning, there was a report that Russian satellites, acting in Iran's interests, made images of US military facilities in the Middle East and the Gulf region," the president said.
Specifically, the following activities were recorded:
- On March 24, Russian satellites captured images of the US-UK base Diego Garcia in the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. They also imaged Kuwait International Airport and part of the oil infrastructure at the Greater Burgan field.
- On March 25, satellites imaged Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
- On March 26, images were taken of the Shaybah oil and gas field (Saudi Arabia), Incirlik Air Base (Türkiye), and Al Udeid Air Base (Qatar).
"Ukrainian facilities are absent from this list. But who is helping whom by lifting sanctions on an aggressor that earns money every day and shares intelligence used to strike American, Middle Eastern, British, and joint US-UK bases?" Zelenskyy stressed.
He added that when Russia conducts reconnaissance over Ukrainian sites, Kyiv understands these locations must be protected and works on plans to neutralize threats.
"Energy and water infrastructure, military sites — everyone knows the purposes of repeat imaging: they are preparing. If the Russians are doing this, how can sanctions be lifted?" the president said.
Zelenskyy noted that pressure must be maintained on the Kremlin's head, and lifting sanctions is clearly not a form of pressure.
"It looks strange: sanctions are lifted, while the aggressor shares information used to strike targets, including in countries that are considering or already easing sanctions," he concluded.
