Yuri Kobzar15:51, 03/23/24

Despite Elon Musk’s assurances, Russians are only increasing their use of his satellite communications.

Russian forces are increasingly using Starlink satellite systems in their war against Ukraine. This is stated in a journalistic investigation by the German publication Welt .

Journalists note that one of the key advantages of the Ukrainian army was well-established communications, in particular through Starlink satellite communication terminals. But now the Russian army is also increasingly using the same terminals. Evidence was provided to journalists by soldiers of the intelligence and analytical center of the Bureviy brigade, operating as part of the National Guard in the Donetsk region.

Satellite imagery, drone recordings and intercepted conversations between Russian soldiers indicate that some Russian units systematically used the American satellite system.

“Without Starlink, our effectiveness would have been clearly reduced. So I would say that they (Starlink devices – ed.) are also very effective for the Russians,” said a Ukrainian unit commander named Alexander.

Despite the fact that information about the Russians using the American communications system appeared many weeks ago, Starlink terminals in Russian-occupied territories are still active, with more being added.

“We discovered a whole series of Starlink terminals in Serebryansky Forest – the Akhmat units used Starlink. Other brigades also use the devices. They receive them in large quantities. They are not registered in Russia,” said the head of the radio intelligence unit, who gave his name as “Mikhas.” .

According to Mikhas, his unit learned from intercepted conversations of the Russian military, “that there is even a store in Kremennaya that sells Starlink.” The Russians’ use of this communication system is confirmed by photographic reconnaissance data, which recorded Starlink terminals at Russian positions.

“They can’t use Starlink in the interior of Russia, but close to the front line, at a distance of 30 to 50 kilometers, it is actually possible,” he said.

It is noted that it is possible to block the operation of terminals only using geolocation data. But since the Ukrainian and Russian Starlink terminals are located at a relatively short distance from each other, an attempt to block one will lead to blocking the others.

According to a radio intelligence officer named Vladimir, Putin’s troops use the satellite system primarily to quickly correct artillery fire. In addition, this complicates the work of Ukrainian radio intelligence. “We cannot intercept their communications via Starlink. There is access to the Internet there. We cannot hack it,” Vladimir explained.

Starlink in the hands of the Russians: what is known

As UNIAN wrote, although isolated cases of Russians using Starlink terminals at the front were recorded in the first year of the war, in recent months this has become a systemic phenomenon . It is believed that the Russians are purchasing satellite terminals to circumvent sanctions through Dubai.

Elon Musk not only denied the possibility of direct sales of his satellite terminals to Russia, but argued that even illegal deliveries through third countries were impossible. Despite this, the US Congress has already initiated an investigation due to the appearance of Starlink terminals in the hands of Russians.

(C)UNIAN 2024