Starlink internet terminals used by Russians have been blocked, while Ukrainian devices added to the "white list" have resumed operation, reported Ukrainian Defense Minister Fedorov. Russian military correspondents are outraged by the failures.
Starlink satellite internet terminals used by Russian troops on the front in Ukraine have been deactivated, stated Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. The first batch of Ukrainian terminals added to the "white list" has resumed operation, he noted on Telegram on Thursday, February 5.
According to him, the verification process for Ukrainian Starlink terminals is ongoing, and the lists are updated once a day. Users who have already submitted applications for terminal registration but have not yet gained access to the service are advised to wait. "This is a very large-scale process that requires time. At the same time, we are already working on ensuring that data is submitted for verification in real time," Fedorov further wrote.
The Ministry of Defense emphasized that stable and continuous communication remains critically important for the Ukrainian military and thanked the units that promptly completed the procedure for confirming their terminals.
Russian Military Correspondents Report Major Failures in Starlink Operations
On the same day, Russian pro-military bloggers reported major failures in the operation of Starlink terminals in combat zones in Ukraine. At least nine bloggers close to the Russian Armed Forces stated that they had lost Starlink connectivity, reports AFP. Military correspondents complain that this could weaken the ability of Russian troops to continue the war using drones and complicate coordination between units. In particular, military correspondent Alexander Kots from "Komsomolskaya Pravda" referred to Starlink as Russia's "Achilles' heel."
The Moscow Times also noted the publications of Z-bloggers who are mass complaining about non-functioning Starlink terminals for Russian military personnel. It is reported that connectivity has been lost for nearly 90% of units, which has severely impacted frontline groups. Among others, this was reported by Vladimir Romanov, "Thirteenth," "Two Majors," "Military Observer," and "Belarusian Silovik."
It is noted that "this will hit the forward assault groups the hardest, for example in Kupiansk, as they have lost their communication capabilities." Several bloggers emphasize that there are simply no alternatives to Starlink.
Fedorov Initiated Accounting for Ukrainian Starlink Terminals and Disconnection of Russian Ones
The "white list" of Starlink satellite internet terminals was introduced a few days ago in response to the use of Starlink by Russian troops who continue the full-scale war against Ukraine. The list includes Starlink terminals used by Ukraine in cooperation with the developer company SpaceX. The registration process for Ukrainians will be conducted "free of charge, quickly, and without unnecessary bureaucracy" at the Centers for Administrative Services (CNAP), Fedorov stated.
Ukrainian Defense Ministry advisor Serhiy Beskrestnov previously reported hundreds of attacks by Russian drones equipped with Starlink modules. He also suggested that Shahed drones, controlled via Starlink, attacked a passenger train in Kharkiv Oblast on January 27, resulting in the deaths of five people.
The Defense Minister indicated that his agency informed SpaceX about the use of Starlink by the Russian army for drone control during attacks on Ukrainian cities and facilities, and "offered specific solutions to the problem." According to Fedorov, the American company immediately began working on a solution. On February 1, SpaceX owner Elon Musk reported success in efforts aimed at countering the use of Starlink by the Russian military.
