Russia’s military is struggling to find an alternative to Starlink satellite internet after access was restricted, impacting crucial communications used by its troops. Following a meeting between Ukraine’s defense minister and Elon Musk of SpaceX, Ukraine announced the shutdown of Starlink terminals used by the Russian military, already affecting their operations, particularly with drones.
Moscow has relied heavily on thousands of smuggled Starlink terminals to coordinate movements and attacks in areas lacking reliable communications. Ukraine’s new defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, implemented a system that allows only authorized Starlink devices to connect, effectively preventing Russian access.
Though analysts note that alternatives exist, none match Starlink’s capabilities. The Russian military is exploring workarounds through civilians in Ukraine to register devices for them. This dependency on Western technology has sparked frustration among Russian officials, highlighting concerns over their military’s vulnerability four years into the conflict.
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