KYIV, Jan 29, 2026, 17:25 (EET)
- Ukraine reports collaboration with SpaceX to block Russian drones by cutting off their Starlink satellite internet access.
- An adviser to Ukraine’s defense ministry says Starlink connections complicate jamming efforts on long-range drones and improve their steering capabilities.
- Kyiv depends on tens of thousands of Starlink terminals to keep battlefield communications and drone operations running.
Ukraine is collaborating with U.S. satellite firm SpaceX to address reports that Russian long-range drones are leveraging Starlink, Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov revealed Thursday.
This matters now because Starlink allows an operator to maintain drone control even when the target zone is swamped with electronic warfare—radio jamming tactics both sides deploy to block attacks. Ukraine’s cities and rear positions have faced repeated long-range drone strikes this winter, and Kyiv is eager to seal off any new vulnerabilities.
This hits a sensitive spot for Ukraine. Starlink is essential for front-line communications and controlling Ukrainian drones, so any heavy-handed restrictions could unintentionally hamper Ukraine’s own military efforts.
Fedorov said his team acted fast, reaching out to SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell and CEO Elon Musk to thank them for what he described as a rapid response. “We are grateful … for the quick response,” he wrote, noting that efforts were already underway to “resolve the situation.”
Serhiy Beskrestnov, a fresh adviser to Fedorov, sounded the alarm publicly after sharing photos recently of destroyed Russian long-range drones outfitted with Starlink gear. On Thursday, he claimed there have been “hundreds” of incidents where these Starlink-equipped drones hit Ukrainian targets.
Beskrestnov pointed out that drones relying on satellite internet resist “jamming” — which disrupts control links by flooding them with radio noise — more effectively. They can still be piloted manually toward a target even if other navigation aids falter. Simply put: as long as the connection holds, the drone remains controllable.
Fedorov revealed that Kyiv reached out to SpaceX “within hours” after Russian drones equipped with Starlink connectivity started appearing over Ukrainian cities. Separate reports, referencing the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War, suggest Russia is increasingly relying on Starlink to boost the range of some strike drones. Straitstimes
Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet network, kicked off service in Ukraine back in 2022 following Kyiv’s urgent request during the early stages of Russia’s full-scale invasion. According to Ukrainian sources and Reuters, SpaceX does not offer Starlink service within Russia.
Ukrainian Pravda, quoting Fedorov, said officials pitched solutions and that SpaceX had already begun addressing the issue. The report also highlighted prior warnings from Beskrestnov that Russia was testing Starlink connections on various drone models.
The tricky part is that how any fix would actually work remains unclear. We don’t know how Russian forces are getting their hands on Starlink gear or access. And if measures to block suspected Russian use aren’t precise, they risk cutting off legitimate Ukrainian users too.
Kyiv is currently tackling a battlefield challenge while aiming to keep the vital system intact. This situation highlights the double-edged nature of commercial technology in conflict: the same tools that keep one side linked up can, if seized, enable the opponent to guide their weapons.
