The advisor to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Beskrestnov, stated that after the disconnection from Starlink, the Russian army controls drones online using Mesh networks. According to him, the fight against such networks should have started several months ago.
The Russian army, despite the imposed restrictions on the use of Starlink, can still control drones online during flight using Mesh networks - networks of drones that coordinate with each other through modems installed on them. This was stated by the advisor to the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Sergey Beskrestnov, in an interview with Ukrainian Radio NV.
The communication between drones in the Mesh network is established because each modem can simultaneously transmit a signal to another and receive it. As a result, a chain of drones in the air is created, which is maintained even if one of the links fails. Online control of UAVs from such a chain makes the attack more precise than controlling a drone via GPS.
"We see how the Russians are attacking now - this is a different story, this is the control of Shahed drones on radio modems, Mesh networks, simply from Russia. So for us, personally for me, this is a challenge. And we will also cover this story. <...> I am ashamed because this should have been done a long time ago, several months ago," Beskrestnov said. He did not specify how exactly the Mesh networks would be blocked. At the same time, he noted that the military is currently working on "covering locomotives, substations from these UAVs with Mesh networks."
Musk: Curbing the use of Starlink by Russian drones has borne "fruit"
In early February, American SpaceX, which develops Starlink, took measures at the request of the Ukrainian side to prevent the use of satellite communications by the Russian army. Thus, the terminals developed by the company now stop working at speeds of 75-90 km/h. As a result, installing such a terminal on a long-range drone becomes less effective.
"It seems that the steps we have taken to curb unauthorized use of Starlink by Russia have borne fruit. Let us know if additional measures need to be taken," commented the innovations by SpaceX founder Elon Musk.
In addition, Ukraine has introduced "white lists" of terminals used by local companies, individuals, or the military. The authorities want only "verified and registered" devices to operate in the country. According to Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, those used by Russian troops on the front in Ukraine have already been deactivated.
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