Russian forces access Starlink through smuggling and captured gear
A Russian drone using Starlink (Photo: Flash / Telegram)
Russian forces continue to use Starlink internet on the front line despite efforts to block the terminals, with devices reaching them through multiple channels, the independent outlet Verstka reported on April 23.
Online marketplaces, particularly Telegram channels, are actively advertising Starlink terminals, journalists found. In some cases, Ukrainians initially register the devices in their own names and then ship them abroad, where they are redirected to Russia via third countries.
Some of these terminals are later blocked, though only a small portion of purchased “clean” devices remain operational, a Russian servicemember said, according to the report.
Captured Ukrainian equipment has also become a source of Starlink terminals for Russian forces, Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukraine’s defense minister known by the call sign “Flash,” said. Ukrainian troops recently identified a Starlink terminal on a Russian drone that had been removed from a captured Ukrainian UAV, he said.
“A drone with a Starlink terminal reached our positions. Unlike others, it was clearly operational,” Beskrestnov said. “Inspection showed that this Starlink had previously been installed on one of our drones.”
Ukrainian forces should request deactivation of such terminals if recovery is not possible, Beskrestnov added.
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry and SpaceX have been working together to address the use of Starlink by Russian forces, Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said on Jan. 29.
Elon Musk said on Jan. 30 that he was “happy to help” resolve the issue of Russian drones using Starlink.
Measures implemented by SpaceX to restrict such use have shown results, Musk said on Feb. 1.
Ukraine launched a verification system for Starlink terminals on Feb. 2, allowing only registered and verified devices to operate within the country, Fedorov said.
Disruptions to Russian access to Starlink led to a slowdown in their operations, with assaults halted in several sectors and signs of panic among Russian forces, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said on Feb. 5.
Russian activity declined significantly following the shutdown of unauthorized terminals, with the number of their live video streams dropping elevenfold, Fedorov said on Feb. 27.
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