According to Ukrainian authorities, Russian forces recently began using attack drones fitted with Starlink terminals to strike military targets inside Ukraine. The issue was raised urgently with SpaceX after drones using satellite connectivity were detected operating over Ukrainian cities.
Ukraine’s Minister of Defence, Mykhailo Fedorov, said his team contacted SpaceX immediately and proposed technical steps to halt the unauthorized use. On January 29, he wrote that within hours of the reports, the ministry had shared concrete solutions. He later confirmed that SpaceX responded quickly and started implementing restrictions to disable Starlink terminals when used on Russian unmanned systems. Fedorov thanked SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell and Elon Musk for the swift response.
Russian BM-35 attack drone was equipped with a Starlink terminal
Open-source monitoring groups from Ukraine and Russia reported that the countermeasures include speed-based restrictions. Starlink terminals are disabled when movement exceeds roughly 75–90 kilometers per hour, preventing use on fast-moving platforms such as strike drones while preserving service for ground users and slower systems. The steps were aimed at drones such as the BM-35 and “Molniya,” reportedly modified to carry Starlink terminals for long-range navigation and command-and-control.
Musk said the measures appeared effective and invited feedback if more was needed. Fedorov replied that the first actions were already producing results and that coordination would continue.
Serhii Beskrestnov (“Flash”), an adviser to Fedorov, said many Ukrainian users were already observing the countermeasures. He noted that current steps are temporary and will be replaced by a broader, long-term solution.
Serhii Beskrestnov (“Flash”)
Beskrestnov also emphasized the need to gather nationwide information on military Starlink users, acknowledging past reluctance among soldiers using volunteer-provided terminals. Starlink has been central to Ukraine’s communications since early 2022, supporting military and civilian connectivity during attacks on infrastructure.
Top Photo: Starlink satellite antenna -Eugene Crist
Sources: Defence Blog; Ukrinform