The contract seen by AFP was written in English and Russian and signed on November 15, 2022, with Beijing Yunze Technology Co Ltd — developments that happened amid a military operation led by the Kremlin in Ukraine where Wagner forces, under the leadership of its deceased founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, played a key role on the battlefield.
Wagner mercenaries purchased two high resolution observation satellites that belonged to the Chinese space giant Chang Guang Satellite Technology, CGST, through Nika-Frut, a company that was part of Prigozhin’s empire.
Nika-Frut paid over $30 million for the satellites and additional services.
Speaking to AFP, a European security source that asked not to be named said the satellites were also used to assist Wagner's operations in Africa and during the failed mutiny in June that led to the de-facto breakup of the group and was followed by Prigozhin's death.
FILE — A view shows the grave of Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in St Petersburg, Aug. 30, 2023
The contract also caters to the provision of images on demand.
The images allowed Wagner to obtain satellite pictures of Ukraine and areas in Africa where its mercenaries were active including Libya, Sudan, Central African Republic and Mali, the European security source added.
The source said Wagner also ordered images of Russian territory at the end of May 2023, all along the route between the Ukrainian border and Moscow. The private military organization seized these areas during its brief mutiny that was aborted within 24 hours.
There is, however, no mention of ordering images of Russian territory in the contract and the supply of such pictures could not be independently confirmed by AFP.
But there have been media reports that Western intelligence services, including in France and the United States, had intelligence that the mutiny was going to happen before it took place.
The European security source said the contract with the Chinese firm was still active. It provides for the acquisition of two Chinese satellites — JL-1 GF03D 12 and JL-1 GF03D 13 — which are in orbit at an altitude of 535 kilometers above the Earth.
In this contract, Wagner also acquired the right to bid for other satellite images from the network held by the Chinese operator CGST, which has around 100 satellites and aims to reach 300 by 2025.
Gregory Falco, aerospace researcher at Cornell University in the United States, said Wagner's use of the Chinese technology showed Russia's limits in the sector despite its historic reputation as a great space power going back to the USSR.
"Russia does not have this type of capabilities. Their satellite program has not been successful recently. There is no way they could do it themselves," Falco said.
"This is something they're not good at whereas China is at the top of the game," he added.
Asked to comment on the contract, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said "I am not aware of the situation you describe."
"China always takes a prudent and responsible attitude towards the relevant issues of exports, and acts strictly in accordance with Chinese policies, laws and its international obligations," he added.