Russia-Ukraine War: US slaps sanctions on Chinese space science firm for helping mercenary Wagner Group

The US has slapped sanctions on a Chinese company Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute for allegedly assisting Russia's Wagner Group in combat operations against Ukraine.

Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute, which is also known as "Spacety China", allegedly provided satellite imagery of Ukraine to the mercenary group Wagner.

Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute has offices in Luxembourg and Beijing.


Apaprt from Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute, the US Treasury Department has slapped sanctions on 15 entities.

According to the US Treasury Department, Russia received thousands of fighters from Wagner. Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute or Spacety China provided synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite images of Ukraine's locations to Russia-based technology firm Terra Tech. Those images helped Wagner's combat operations in Ukraine, according to the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control.



So far, Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute or Spacety China has not responded.

Sanctions debarred targeted entities from transfer of payments and export of property in the US.

China is a close ally of Russia. The US and its allies have criticised Beijing for not denouncing Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

FAQs:

1. Is Ukraine is part of Russia?
   Ukraine became an independent country in 1991.
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   Germany has announced that it would send tanks to Ukraine.