Google Maps is not unanimous. Andriy Kovalenko, a Ukrainian official, recently accused the online mapping service of releasing images that would expose all locations of Ukrainian military systems to view. Which, if true, would risk jeopardizing the security of the Ukrainian armed forces in a context marked by the war between kyiv and Moscow, reports Newsweek in a publication on Sunday, November 3.
It was on Telegram that Andriy Kovalenko, who heads the disinformation branch of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, expressed his concerns. He says he fears that Russian forces will use this data to target Ukrainian military equipment. The specialist assures that Google representatives contacted the Ukrainian authorities and let them know that they were working to remedy the situation. He did not, however, specify which military equipment or strategic locations were affected.
The main dates of the war in Ukraine
Experts downplay Google Maps' impact on military strategy
To try to see more clearly, the American magazine contacted Andrii Ziuz, former director general of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council and current technological director of the company Prevail based in London, and Ivan Stupak, a former officer of the Kiev SBU security service. The two military experts put the impact of the images broadcast by Google Maps into perspective. The first argued that the content provided by the online mapping service would only have a limited scope, because these photos generally only show fixed objects, such as training camps and manufacturing factories. . The second added that, because “the front line is constantly evolving”Google Maps proves to be of little use when it comes to military strategy.
On Saturday November 2, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, quoted by Newsweek, explained that Ukraine was currently succeeding in containing “one of Russian offensives the most powerful” since the start of the conflict in February 2022. The fighting continues to rage, particularly in the east of the country, where Moscow has recently claimed the capture of a number of key localities, including Kurakhivka and Vishnevoye. Such advances are significant, because they demonstrate Russian strategy aimed at consolidating its positions in strategic areas. This is particularly the case around Bakhmut, a strategic town in Donetsk.
No winter break for fighting
kyiv, which continues to face growing military challenges, is preparing to face prolonged fighting. Analysts believe that tensions should remain high throughout the winter, continues the American media. For now, the possible repercussions of the Google Maps images on Ukrainian military operations remain to be determined, but they highlight the difficulty of keeping data secret in the digital age.
