Ukraine says Russian troops are using Elon Musk’s Starlink in occupied areas

The Starlink satellite Internet system was established near the Urland frontline town of Buckmut

Kyiv:

Russian forces in occupied Ukraine are using Starlink terminals produced by Elon Musk’s SpaceX for satellite internet in what is starting to look like their “system” application, Kiev’s main military intelligence agency said on Sunday. .

The terminals were rushed to help Ukraine after Russia invaded in February 2022 and are vital to Kiev’s battlefield communications. Starlink says it does not do business of any kind with the Russian government or military.

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry Intelligence Service (GUR) quoted spokesman Andrei Yusov as saying: “A case of the use of specific equipment by Russian occupiers has been registered. It is beginning to appear systematic.”

The terminals are being used by units such as Russia’s 83rd Air Assault Brigade, which is operating in the embattled towns of Krischivka and Andrivka in the partially occupied eastern Donetsk region, the agency said in a statement. Fight nearby.

This is the first time Ukraine has issued an official statement on Russia’s alleged use of Starlink.

The Russian Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Two Ukrainian government sources told Reuters earlier this week that Russia was using Starlink in occupied Ukrainian territory. One person said they were trying to get data on the scale of such use.

The GUR agency said it intercepted a conversation in which two soldiers discussed setting up a terminal. It posted an alleged audio clip of the exchange on Telegram Messenger as evidence.

GUR did not disclose how it believed the terminals were obtained by Russian forces – such as whether they were procured from abroad or seized from Ukrainian forces.

Starlink said on February 8 that its terminals were not active in Russia and that SpaceX had never sold or marketed the service in Russia or shipped equipment into Russia.

In a statement posted on X, Starlink did not disclose their possible use in occupied areas of Ukraine.

“If SpaceX learns that a Starlink terminal is being used by a sanctioned or unauthorized party, we will investigate the claim and take action to deactivate the terminal if confirmed,” the statement said.

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