The SpaceX Starlink 5 satellite is seen in the sky over Svendborg on South Funen, Denmark, at night on April 21, 2020. MADS CLAUS RASMUSSEN/Getty Images
Ukrainian military intelligence claims that Russia is using Starlink terminals in occupied Ukraine.
According to the company’s own information, the use of Starlink was confirmed by intercepting the radio traffic of a Russian unit in Donetsk.
Starlink says it does not work with the Russian government or military.
This is a machine translation of an article from our US colleagues at Business Insider. It was automatically translated and checked by a real editor.
Russia to deploy Starlink terminals in occupied parts of Ukraine claims Ukrainian military intelligence (GUR). Ukrainian intelligence confirmed Russia’s use of Starlink after intercepting radio communications from Russia’s 83rd Assault Brigade, which operates near the cities of Klishchivka and Andriivka in the Donetsk region. She released an audio clip purporting to show an exchange between two soldiers.
Andrii Yusov, a representative of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, said local mediathat Russian use of Starlink terminals manufactured by Elon Musk’s SpaceX had taken on a “systemic character.”
Starlink terminals, which connect to the company’s satellites in low Earth orbit to provide internet services, were sent to Ukraine shortly after Russia’s invasion began. They were praised as an important tool to facilitate communications on the battlefield in Kiev.
Reports of Starlink use increased
Ukraine’s confirmation will follow media reports this week that Ukrainian troops had discovered Russia’s use of the terminals several months ago.
Ukraine’s GUR did not provide information on how many terminals it believed Russia owned or how it might have come into possession of those terminals. Starlink said in one Explanation on Thursday that the company does not do business with the Russian government or military.
The statement said Starlink does not operate in Russia and has not sold or delivered any devices to the country. However, there was no mention of the possible use of Starlink in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine. “If SpaceX becomes aware that a Starlink terminal is being used by a sanctioned or unauthorized party, we will investigate the allegation and, if confirmed, take action to disable the terminal,” it said.
However, it is possible that Russian troops are disguising their use of Starlink from SpaceX by sending a fake GPS signal, Bryan Clark, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, told Defense One magazine.
A Starlink antenna covered with a camouflage net used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Donetsk region, December 2022. NurPhoto/Getty
Musk supported Ukraine in the first Russian invasion and SpaceX sent “thousands” from Starlink terminals to the country, but relations have since cooled.
He revealed that he will be in 2022 Kiev’s request was rejected, to activate Starlink near Moscow-annexed Crimea, where Ukraine was planning a drone strike against the Russian navy. That would have made SpaceX “explicitly an accomplice in a major act of war,” he said, justifying the decision.
External content not available
Your privacy settings prevent the loading and display of all external content (e.g. graphics, tables, subscription login) and social networks (e.g. Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram etc.). To display this, please activate the settings in the privacy settings.
Change privacy settings