After the full-scale invasion began, Ukraine gained access to Starlink satellite internet thanks to Mykhailo Fedorov's appeal to Elon Musk. This greatly strengthened the communications capabilities of the Armed Forces and improved their battlefield effectiveness.
However, through grey market schemes, Starlink terminals also fell into Russian military hands. The main supply routes were through Dubai and Kazakhstan, with dozens of shops inside Russia openly selling terminals for military and drone control purposes. Russians used these to coordinate attacks remotely, including on civilian targets.
The situation reached a critical point in January 2026, when a passenger train in Kharkiv region was attacked by drones using Starlink, resulting in six deaths. In response, the US and SpaceX introduced restrictions, automatically blocking unauthorized or high-speed terminals. Ukrainian devices are now physically authorized, while Russians have faced mass blockings.
This has triggered a wave of outrage among Russian military bloggers and even Kremlin propagandists. Some openly admit the army's critical dependence on Starlink and predict technological lag for Russia. There have even been calls to attack satellites, but experts note such strikes would also hit Russian satellites.
Ukraine is now developing a “white list” of authorized terminals, further limiting Russian Starlink use. On the frontline, Russian offensive actions have reportedly slowed or stopped in some sectors.
The Starlink blocking episode and its aftermath highlight the crucial role of technology in modern warfare and Russia's reliance on Western solutions. Ukraine, meanwhile, is responding rapidly to new challenges, making the most of this window of opportunity.
