Russian Forces Using Starlink Terminals in Occupied Ukraine Area ,Ukraine Claim

Defense News ,Ukrain Russia War :- Russian forces occupying Ukraine are reportedly utilizing Starlink terminals from Elon Musk's SpaceX for satellite internet, marking what Ukraine's main military intelligence agency describes as a "systemic" application. These terminals were swiftly deployed to assist Ukraine following Russia's invasion in February 2022 and have played a crucial role in Kyiv's battlefield communications. Starlink, however, maintains that it does not engage in any business with the Russian government or military.

The Ukrainian defence ministry's Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) revealed the increasing prevalence of Russian occupiers using Starlink terminals, with spokesman Andriy Yusov stating that it is taking on a systematic nature. The agency pointed to specific units, such as Russia's 83rd Air Assault Brigade, reportedly using these terminals in the eastern region of Donetsk near the towns of Klishchiivka and Andriivka.

This official statement from Ukraine marks the first acknowledgment of Russia's alleged reliance on Starlink for communication purposes. The GUR agency claimed to have intercepted communications between soldiers discussing the setup of these terminals, sharing an audio clip on the Telegram messenger as evidence.

Despite the revelations, the agency did not provide details on how it believes the Russian forces acquired the Starlink terminals—whether through procurement abroad or capturing them from Ukrainian forces.

Russia's defence ministry has not responded to Reuters' request for comment on the matter. Ukrainian government sources had earlier informed Reuters about the detection of Russian use of Starlink in occupied Ukrainian territories, aiming to gather data on the extent of this usage.

Starlink, in response to the situation, clarified on February 8 that its terminals were not operational in Russia, emphasizing that SpaceX had never sold or promoted the service within the country or shipped equipment to Russian locations.

In a statement posted on X, Starlink did not address the alleged use of its terminals in the occupied areas of Ukraine but highlighted its commitment to investigating claims of unauthorized use and taking appropriate actions to deactivate terminals if confirmed. The situation adds a layer of complexity to the ongoing conflict, raising concerns about the potential technological implications and communication strategies employed by the involved parties.