Russian soldiers fighting against Ukrainian troops have partially lost access to Elon Musk's Starlink internet connection service, several of Russia's influential military bloggers said, despite denials from the influential billionaire that Moscow can tap into Starlink.
Why It Matters
Ukraine's military said last February that Russian forces were using Starlink terminals along Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine, pointing specifically to Russia's 83rd Separate Air Assault Brigade that it said was operating in the eastern Donetsk region at the time.
Kyiv's military intelligence agency said then that Russian use of the satellite communications technology was quickly becoming "systemic." Ukraine's own forces have leaned heavily on Starlink's internet access for battlefield communications and for controlling Ukraine's vast drone fleets.
Starlink works by using thousands of low-Earth orbit satellites to provide an internet connection to its users.
Starlink is owned and operated by Musk's aerospace firm, SpaceX, and accounts for a huge percentage of active satellites. Musk—now a trusted ally and adviser to President Donald Trump—has vehemently denied that Starlink is being sold to Russia, although its usage by Russia in Ukraine was murky.
SpaceX said early last year that the company deactivates any Starlink terminal it discovers is being used by a "sanctioned or unauthorized party."
A Kremlin spokesperson said in February 2024 that Starlink is "not a certified system with us" and therefore "cannot be used officially in any way."
What To Know
At least three pro-Kremlin Telegram accounts reported in recent days that some Russian fighters along the hundreds of miles of frontlines snaking through Ukraine had lost access to Starlink.
One account claimed Russian access had been disrupted to roughly one-tenth of in-useStarlink terminals. Another account on messaging app Telegram, run by a self-described war correspondent, reported a "mass blocking of Starlink terminals.
Another channel did not specify how many terminals were impacted but said that "not all" were impacted.
Newsweek has reached out to SpaceX and the Russian Defense Ministry for comment via email.
Last May, the then-assistant secretary of defense for space policy in the Pentagon, John Plumb, told Bloomberg that the U.S. was "heavily involved in working with the government of Ukraine and SpaceX to counter Russian illicit use of Starlink terminals."
"At this time we have successfully countered Russian use," Plumb added but said he believed Moscow would be able to leverage new ways of using the technology for its war effort.
What People Are Saying
John Plumb, former U.S. assistant secretary of defense for space policy, told Bloomberg in May 2024: "I am certain Russia will continue to try and find ways to exploit Starlink and other commercial communications systems."
SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk in September 2024: "Use of Starlink for communications, including military communications, is fine, just like the military uses the internet in general, but if we deliberately engage in explicit acts of war, then we are making Starlink a military system and other countries have every right to shoot down our satellites."
What Happens Next
It is not clear on what scale Russian forces will be able to use Starlink in the coming weeks and months, with Musk becoming an ever-more prominent voice in the new Trump administration committed to brokering peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
Is This Article Trustworthy?
Is This Article Trustworthy?
Newsweek is committed to journalism that is factual and fair
We value your input and encourage you to rate this article.
Newsweek is committed to journalism that is factual and fair
We value your input and encourage you to rate this article.
About the writer
Ellie Cook is a Newsweek security and defense reporter based in London, U.K. Her work focuses largely on the Russia-Ukraine ... Read more