How Ukraine and Russia Utilize Starlink Technology in Drone Operations

Ukrainian front-line troops are facing connection issues with the important Starlink internet service, which is owned by Elon Musk and is crucial for operating Kyiv's attack drones. Despite US sanctions prohibiting Russian use of the devices, soldiers have reported an increase in Russian utilization of Starlink.

During interviews conducted along the front lines, Ukrainian soldiers have mentioned a decline in connection speeds over the past few months and have experienced other connectivity problems. These complaints have coincided with an uptick in Ukrainian observations of Russian use of the satellite internet service provided by Musk's SpaceX. Additionally, there have been social media posts where Russian crowdfunders claim to have successfully circumvented sanctions by purchasing the devices in third countries.

The reports of a deteriorating service in Ukraine have unclear reasons, and both Starlink, SpaceX, and Musk have declined to comment. However, troops and analysts have suggested that there may be more Starlinks in contested areas now compared to months earlier, on both sides of the lines. This increase could potentially impact connection speeds.

Since the 2022 invasion, the Starlink internet service has given Ukraine's smaller military a significant frontline advantage. It has allowed their forces to share real-time drone feeds between units and communicate in areas where combat has disrupted cellphone service.

One communications operator in the Zaporizhzhia area, who goes by the name Misha, shared with CNN that they have been experiencing problems over the past three weeks. Misha mentioned, "We started noticing a decline in the quality of the connection."

According to Misha, "The connection keeps breaking up and requires frequent reboots to function properly. However, the speed decreases shortly after, leading to more disruptions. This has been causing some unpleasant complications for our work."

He said adverse weather might be a factor, although CNN has spoken to units across the front lines reporting similar issues.

A Ukrainian frontline paramedic uses a Starlink internet connection in a basement living quarters as Russian shells land nearby above ground on February 20, 2023 in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.

A Ukrainian frontline paramedic relies on a Starlink internet connection while staying in a basement living quarters. This is happening as Russian shells are landing nearby above ground in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.

Image source: John Moore/Getty Images

Another drone operator, a commander of a unit operating single-use attack drones targeting Russian sites in the Zaporizhzhia area, shared that their unit began facing issues in January. Anton, from the 65th Mechanised Brigade, mentioned that the speed of their operations had significantly dropped since the start of the year. He also highlighted concerns about the Russians acquiring Starlinks through neutral countries and deploying them along the Zaporizhzhia front line.

He mentioned that the speed of Starlink satellites had decreased because the same number of satellites were now serving twice as many units.

Several Ukrainian units along the front lines reported experiencing speed issues with Starlink to CNN. They also mentioned Russian involvement but preferred not to disclose their identities due to the sensitive nature of the topic.

Smoke rises during the aftermath of what Ukraine's state hydropower company says is a Russian missile strike on Ukraine's largest dam, the DniproHES in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine March 22, 2024, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. VIDEO OBTAINED BY REUTERS/via REUTERS NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.

Here, you can see smoke rising after a Russian missile reportedly hit Ukraine's biggest dam, the DniproHES in Zaporizhzhia. This screenshot is from a video shared on social media on March 22, 2024. The video was obtained by REUTERS and should not be resold or archived.

Reuters

Related article

Ukrainian officials raised concerns about Russia launching a major attack on Ukraine's energy system, according to a Ukrainian official. In early February, they mentioned Russian Starlink use and hinted at collaboration with SpaceX and Elon Musk to limit Moscow's control over the units. However, they chose not to provide further comments for this article, with some experts suggesting the importance of maintaining a good relationship with the unpredictable businessman.

Oleg Kutkov, an internet analyst based in Kyiv, described Musk as a big child who should be approached with care to avoid offending him. He warned that Musk's quick decisions may not always be beneficial for everyone. Kutkov also mentioned that Starlink should have the ability to limit access to terminals owned by Russians, but the situation could become complicated if these terminals are purchased through third countries by Russian crowdfunders.

Kutkov highlighted the challenge of determining the true owner of an account. He gave an example where two terminals, both purchased from Poland, are located in one area - one supporting the Ukrainian side and the other the Russian side. This ambiguity could lead to difficulties for SpaceX in deciding which terminal to block, as they may not know the rightful owner.

In an effort to restrict Russian Starlink use in occupied areas, Ukraine has introduced new legal requirements for satellite communications, such as Starlink terminals. This includes creating a "whitelist" of registered devices approved for use by Kyiv. SpaceX, the owner of Starlink, has consulted with the Pentagon on how to address the challenge of meeting Ukraine's demand for accessibility while preventing Russian forces from using the service in frontline areas where identification of terminal users is difficult.

Behind-the-scenes negotiations have been sensitive, as per a second source familiar with the talks. Ukrainian officials have been in discreet communication with SpaceX and US representatives, emphasizing the importance of implementing the whitelist system for authorized terminals.

Even though the Starlink devices are under the control of the Ukrainian military, there is a concern that Russians may try to hijack their communications or hack into them. The Ukrainian SBU intelligence service reported last year that Russian military hackers were attempting to steal battlefield communications sent from Ukrainian soldiers' mobile devices to Starlink terminals.

When asked about this issue, a Pentagon spokesman named Jeff Jurgensen directed questions to the Ukrainian government. He mentioned, "While we are aware of the reports regarding this matter and acknowledge that Russia may try to use any technology to gain an advantage against Ukraine, we do not have any additional details or information to share at this time."

In February, Musk addressed Ukrainian concerns about Russians using Starlink by clarifying that his company does not work with the Russian government and that the system would not be operational in Russia.

However, it remained uncertain whether the technology could function in areas of Ukraine that are occupied by Russia.

"If SpaceX discovers that a Starlink terminal is being used by a sanctioned or unauthorized party, the company will look into the issue and deactivate the terminal if the claim is verified."

A Ukrainian serviceman stands next to a vehicle that carries a Starlink satellite internet system near the front line in Donetsk region, Ukraine, on February 27, 2023.

A Ukrainian serviceman stands next to a vehicle that carries a Starlink satellite internet system near the front line in Donetsk region, Ukraine, on February 27, 2023.

Lisi Niesner/Reuters

Russian crowdfunders who operate social media channels have been more transparent about their purchases of Starlink in recent months.

One of these suppliers, known as Katya Valya on Telegram, shared a video showing a woman giving multiple drones and what seemed to be five Starlink terminals to two Russian soldiers. She mentioned plans to provide 30 more in the future and also shared photos of a stack of 20 donated Starlink units. Another blogger, CedarWoods, showcased images of donated Starlink units and discussed the damage caused to a Russian unit by a "lucky" Ukrainian strike.

Ukrainian units have shared videos of drone strikes on Russian trenches where Starlink terminals were seen. CNN also received a video showing a Russian drone attacking a Ukrainian vehicle, indicating Moscow's attempt to imitate Kyiv's affordable attack drones.

Members of the US Congressional Oversight Committee, who are Democrats, have sent a letter to Starlink requesting an immediate briefing on the Russian use of these terminals. They are deeply worried that Moscow is deploying the devices in occupied Ukraine, which goes against US sanctions.

The committee wrote earlier this month expressing concern that you may not have the necessary guardrails and policies in place to prevent your technology from being acquired or used illegally by Russia. CNN’s Sean Lyngaas also contributed to this report.

Editor's P/S:

The article highlights the challenges faced by Ukrainian troops with the Starlink internet service, which is crucial for their operations. Despite US sanctions prohibiting Russian use of Starlink, there have been reports of an increase in Russian utilization of the service. Ukrainian soldiers have experienced a decline in connection speeds and other connectivity issues, coinciding with observations of Russian use of Starlink. The reasons for the deteriorating service are unclear, but analysts suggest that the increased number of Starlinks in contested areas may be impacting connection speeds.

The article also discusses concerns about Russian crowdfunders circumventing sanctions by purchasing Starlink devices in third countries and deploying them along the front lines. This raises questions about the effectiveness of US sanctions and the ability of SpaceX to prevent unauthorized use of its technology. The situation is further complicated by the difficulty in determining the true owner of Starlink terminals, as they can be purchased and used by both Ukrainian and Russian forces. The article underscores the need for a solution to address these challenges and ensure that Starlink remains a valuable asset for Ukrainian troops while preventing its misuse by the Russian military.