Russian Military Communications Disrupted as Starlink Access is Curtailled
Russia’s military is facing significant challenges on the battlefield after access to Starlink satellite internet, a system it had come to rely on for crucial communications, was curtailed. The move, coordinated between Ukraine and SpaceX, has disrupted command and control networks and reportedly impacted Russian drone operations.
Ukrainian officials confirmed last week that Starlink terminals used by Russian troops had been deactivated following discussions between Ukraine’s defense minister and Elon Musk, head of SpaceX. The action addresses concerns about the illicit use of the satellite network by Kremlin forces, a practice that had provided a key advantage in areas where traditional military communications were unreliable or susceptible to jamming.
Moscow had reportedly smuggled thousands of Starlink terminals into Russia, often through central Asia, to maintain connectivity along the frontline. These terminals allowed Russian forces to coordinate movements and launch drone strikes with greater efficiency. The system’s speed, coverage, and ease of use made it a particularly valuable asset, as Russia currently lacks a comparable domestic alternative.
“What everyone feared for a long time has happened,” wrote Yuriy Podolyaka, a Crimea-based video blogger with a substantial following on Telegram. “Elon Musk flipped the switch … our communications are in chaos.”
The disruption comes as Ukrainian forces increasingly utilize Starlink for their own battlefield communications and drone operations, reportedly employing tens of thousands of terminals. Ukrainian officials discovered Russian units attaching Starlink terminals to long-range drones, enhancing their accuracy and resilience to electronic warfare. This prompted urgent appeals to SpaceX for assistance.
SpaceX responded by implementing a “whitelist” system, allowing only verified Ukrainian Starlink terminals to connect to the network, effectively blocking access for devices believed to be operated by Russian forces. “Starlinks included in the ‘white list’ are working — Russian terminals have already been blocked,” Ukrainian defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov stated in a Telegram post, adding that the list is continually being updated.
While the full extent of the impact remains unclear, reports indicate that the shutdown has already caused frustration among pro-war Russian military bloggers closely connected to frontline units. Another Telegram channel, Dva Mayora, reported a “negative impact on communications” and a scramble to establish less convenient backup systems.
Analysts note that while alternatives to Starlink exist, they fall short in terms of performance and ease of deployment. Short-range options include fiber-optic lines, wifi-based radio bridges, and digital radio modems, but these are slower to set up and less practical for mobile operations. Russia’s own satellite communications, operated by Gazprom Space Systems, offer limited coverage and data capacity.
Facing this setback, Russian forces are reportedly attempting to circumvent the restrictions by seeking intermediaries within Ukraine and recruiting civilians to register Starlink terminals in their names. Ukraine’s defense ministry has highlighted this effort, sharing screenshots it claims show Russians advertising for Ukrainian nationals to activate the devices on their behalf.
The reliance on Western technology by the Russian military, even during a period of conflict, has sparked criticism within Moscow. Aleksey Zhuravlyov, a State Duma lawmaker, emphasized the dangers of depending on systems originating from adversarial nations, even while acknowledging ongoing negotiations with the United States. “We see important to understand that relying on anything western in the current situation is dangerously overconfident,” he said.
Elon Musk acknowledged that the measures taken to block unauthorized Russian use of Starlink had been effective, stating on X, “Looks like the steps we took to stop the unauthorised use of Starlink by Russia have worked.” The move represents an early win for Ukraine’s new defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, and underscores the growing importance of satellite internet in modern warfare.
