Ukraine is employing satellite data from Vantor, a private company based in Colorado, to target Russian military assets. The Wall Street Journal’s Heather Somerville reports that Ukraine’s work with Vantor has reduced targeting times for troops by 90%. She writes of a recent mission that took out a Russian planning area:
The Ukrainian involved in the strike on the Russian planning site said the new technology helps preserve Kyiv’s two scarcest assets: “It is money, it is time,” he said. With access to the satellite images, his team didn’t have to rely on surveillance drones that can be expensive and are more easily jammed or shot down by the Russians.
The Ukrainians are also hitting targets deep within Russia, and Vantor’s satellites confirm the damage being done.
New Vantor satellite imagery shows the aftermath of Ukrainian drone strikes on an oil terminal in St. Petersburg, Russia, and the damaged Steregushchy-class corvette Boikiy in a naval dry dock at Kronstadt.
Imagery shows fire crews using high-pressure water cannons to control… pic.twitter.com/XbhLj66HEa
— MizarVision Watcher (@MizarVision) June 3, 2026
Recently, Ukraine struck a Russian corvette in dry dock in Kronstadt, a naval base off the coast of St. Petersburg, far from Ukrainian territory. Vantor imagery was used to confirm its destruction.
🇺🇦 🇷🇺 Vantor satellite imagery confirms the aftermath of Ukraine’s strikes on Kronstadt – fire crews working with high-pressure water cannons on the Steregushchy-class corvette Boikiy in dry dock.
The initial assessment from OSINT analysts: damage appeared less severe than…
— The Tectonic (@thetect0nic) June 4, 2026
The imagery can also give Ukrainians an idea of what Russia is planning as well. For instance, Vantor imagery has shown Russia’s progress on its Tsimbulova drone base.
Satellite imagery from April 22 shows Russia expanding the Tsimbulova drone base, with new launch rails reportedly built for a new generation of jet-powered attack drones.
The site appears to be part of a wider effort to scale up long-range drone operations.
Image: ©2026 Vantor… pic.twitter.com/fza48lly1i
— MizarVision Watcher (@MizarVision) April 24, 2026
