The US has sanctioned a Chinese firm accused of helping a Russian mercenary group’s military operation in Ukraine.
Announced by the US Treasury Department on Thursday, Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute, also known as Spacety China, is among 16 entities which have been sanctioned by Washington.
The firm also known as Spacety China has offices in Beijing and Luxembourg and has been accused of supplying Russian-based technology firm Terra Tech the Treasury Department said.
A statement added: “Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute Co. LTD (Spacety China) is a People’s Republic of China (PRC)-based entity that has provided Terra Tech synthetic aperture radar satellite imagery orders over locations in Ukraine.
“These images were gathered in order to enable Wagner combat operations in Ukraine.”
Under the sanctions, there can be no transfer, payment or export of property in the United States to Spacety.
On its website, Spacety terms itself as “a global new space company specialising in small satellites and satellite-based services”.
The fifteen other entities included in the new sanctions have all been accused of being involved in supporting Russia’s battlefield operations.
“As sanctions and export controls on Russia from our international coalition continue to bite, the Kremlin is desperately searching for arms and support – including through the brutal Wagner Group – to continue its unjust war against Ukraine,” said Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen.
“Today’s expanded sanctions on Wagner, as well as new sanctions on their associates and other companies enabling the Russian military complex, will further impede Putin’s ability to arm and equip his war machine.”
The Wagner Group is a mercenary organisation created by Yevgeny Prigozhin. It is often termed as Vladimir Putin’s private army and is estimated to have up to 50,000 troops in Ukraine, according to UK and US estimates.
The group has been accused of killing civilians in Bucha in March 2022 by German intelligence.
The US has also been designated the mercenary group as a “significant transnational criminal organisation”.
