WP: Russia’s illicit Starlink terminals help power its advance in Ukraine

Russian forces have become deadlier and more agile with the help of illicit Starlink terminals, allowing them to use satellite internet to enhance coordination during assaults, fly more drone sorties and batter Ukrainian troops with accurate artillery fire despite US efforts to stop the flow of technology, Report informs referring to The Washington Post.

The terminals, which give commanders live battlefield views with drones and secure communication between soldiers, are subject to prohibitions that outlaw many US electronics from reaching Moscow. Yet there is a burgeoning black market of Starlinks bringing the terminals to Russians on the front, and their proliferation has been an important factor in Russia’s recent gains during its offensive, Ukrainian soldiers said.

Tens of thousands of Starlink dishes form the backbone of Ukraine’s military network, fueling devices vital to fighting a digital war — one of the few advantages Kyiv has against Moscow’s bigger, if less modernized, force. Six Ukrainian soldiers and officers from different units across the Donetsk region told The Washington Post that Russia has closed the technology gap, making its forces more cohesive and boosting the number and precision of attacks.

The issue has renewed Ukrainian frustrations over Elon Musk, SpaceX’s mercurial chief executive. Some of the soldiers criticized Musk by name, saying his company has not done enough to crack down on illicit use and casting doubt on his desire to fix the problem, saying he appears to have favorable views toward Russia.

SpaceX provided free Starlink connection to Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 but then threatened to cut service following online spats with diplomats, citing the high costs. Musk relented under public pressure and then sent the bill to the Pentagon, the most recent totaling $14.1 million for six months of service through next month.

Musk was also widely condemned in Ukraine following reports he denied Kyiv’s request to allow Starlink access for sea drones in a planned 2022 attack on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. His biographer Walter Isaacson also wrote that Musk sought counsel from the Russian ambassador to the United States and was worried he would play a role in a destabilizing escalation.

Having access to reliable strong internet on the battlefield through Starlink transformed Ukrainian operations, changing what used to take precious minutes of radio chatter into seconds of taps and swipes on tablets brimming with detailed maps and chat programs. The connectivity has allowed leaders to guide assaults with live drone feeds, tweak artillery coordinates by viewing impacts and assess where enemies may be their most vulnerable to attack.

Russian troops had mostly relied on radios to communicate what they see and do during battles, a slow back-and-forth compared with fast internet, and they were much more rigid by comparison. Except now Russians have mirrored Ukraine by using Starlink in similar ways, Ukrainian soldiers said.

“They just overpowered us,” said an officer in the 72nd Mechanized Brigade, which had defended the Vuhledar area since 2022 and recently had to withdraw. He described the Russian use of Starlink as one of the important factors, along with manpower and weaponry shortfalls, that hastened the fall of Vuhledar this month. Like others interviewed for this story, he spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to reporters.