Ukraine Credits Elon Musk for Curtailing Russian Drone Use of Starlink
Elon Musk's initiative to prevent Russia from utilizing Starlink satellites for drone operations has produced tangible outcomes, according to a Ukrainian official.
Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov commended the SpaceX founder as "a true champion of freedom and a true friend of the Ukrainian people," highlighting Musk's prompt response upon learning that Russian drones connected via Starlink were active in Ukraine.
These drones have been implicated in several recent lethal Russian attacks on Ukrainian territory, including an assault on a moving passenger train that resulted in six fatalities.
"Looks like the steps we took to stop the unauthorised use of Starlink by Russia have worked," Musk stated on X. "Let us know if more needs to be done."
Starlink satellites, operated by SpaceX, provide global high-speed internet and have been functional in Ukraine since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
Fedorov explained that Russian drones are challenging to intercept due to their low-altitude flight, resistance to electronic warfare, and real-time remote control by operators.
The Institute for the Study of War noted in mid-January that Russia's integration of Starlink connectivity into inexpensive kamikaze Molniya-2 drones had significantly enhanced their battlefield effectiveness.
While neither Fedorov nor Musk detailed the specific measures taken, the Ukrainian defence ministry's official website, ArmiyaInform, reported that SpaceX imposed a speed restriction of 75 kilometers per hour on Starlink terminals operating in Ukraine.
"Russian drones move much more quickly, so the enemy operators will not be able to control them in real time," the website explained.
On Monday, Fedorov announced that the Ukrainian government is preparing to implement a whitelist of authorized Starlink satellite terminals permitted to operate within Ukraine. All unregistered terminals will be disconnected.
"We are implementing this in cooperation with SpaceX," Fedorov said, adding that instructions for terminal registration would be provided soon.
Russian war bloggers cautioned that these restrictions could have broader implications, as the Russian military relies on Starlink to supply internet connectivity to front-line units.
Fedorov, who was deputy prime minister at the time, initially requested Musk's assistance shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Musk responded the same day by enabling Starlink service in Ukraine and pledging to supply additional satellite dishes.
However, the relationship between Musk and Kyiv became strained after the initial support.
Later in 2022, Musk denied Ukrainian military access to Starlink in Crimea, a region Russia has occupied since its illegal annexation in 2014.
He justified this decision by stating that Ukraine might have used Starlink to "sink most of the Russian fleet," which would make SpaceX "complicit in a major act of war."
Musk has also frequently criticized Western nations for their financial and military aid to Ukraine, stating,
"It is insane to keep sending so much money to Ukraine with no accountability and no end game."
Nonetheless, Musk affirmed that,
"no matter how much I disagree with the Ukraine policy, Starlink will never turn off its terminals."
He emphasized in March,
"My Starlink system is the backbone of the Ukrainian army. Their entire front line would collapse if I turned it off."
Despite these tensions, Fedorov recently praised Musk's timely decision to provide Starlink access at the start of the full-scale invasion, describing it as "critically important for the stability of our state."
The 35-year-old former digital transformation minister was appointed head of the Ministry of Defence by President Volodymyr Zelensky last month.
Fedorov advocates for a data-driven approach and advanced cyber warfare capabilities. He has pledged to collaborate closely with Silicon Valley companies, asserting that integrating such partners will strengthen Ukraine's defense system.
Additional reporting by BBC Monitoring
