The NASA stream showed the border between Russia and Ukraine (Image: NASA)
NASA's live eclipse broadcast shed light on the alarming border between Ukraine and Russia, highlighting the effects of the war.
In different parts of Europe, millions of people got to witness the most significant solar eclipse since 1999. NASA streamed the solar eclipse, which took place on August 12, featuring live views and interviews with experts.
The broadcast included maps highlighting the areas where the spectacle would be the most visible. However, many viewers spotted something equally as shocking when Russia and Ukraine were shown on the map.
The map shown by NASA placed Crimea on the side of the Russian border, effectively separating it from Ukraine and depicting it as Russian territory.
Crimea has been central to the four-year war between the two countries. Though it is internationally recognized as a part of Ukraine, it has been occupied by Putin’s forces since 2014.
NASA's live eclipse broadcast showed Crimea separated from Ukraine by a border line on its map, effectively depicting it as Russian territory. pic.twitter.com/rmyLC6gQa1
— Clash Report (@clashreport) August 13, 2026
Many see Russia’s annexation of Crimea as the official beginning of the conflict. The move gave Russia a strategic advantage to launch a full-scale invasion in 2022.
Crimea not only functions as a vital military logistics hub but also serves as a symbol of political power, making its depiction as official Russian territory in NASA’s broadcast a massive global shift.
Ukrainian media immediately picked up on this, with many questioning whether it was a simple mistake or an intentional move.
Some felt that NASA’s move, whether intentional or not, revealed a bleak reality: C rimea has not been under Ukrainian control for over a decade.
“It's been a part of Russia for a while lmao,” one user wrote on X.
Another, more outraged user wrote, “So much shame upon NASA for that. Innocents have been slaughtered by Russia and you reward it with illegal recognition? May those responsible be held accountable one day.”
