Ukraine claims Russian forces using Musk’s Starlink in occupied areas | Ukraine

Russian forces in occupied Ukraine are using Starlink terminals made by Elon Musk’s SpaceX for satellite internet, and this is beginning to look like a “systemic” problem, Kiev’s main military intelligence agency says. insisted.

Starlink terminals have become essential for communications on the Kiev battlefield, flooded with support for Ukraine after the Russian invasion in February 2022. Starlink says it does not do any business with the Russian government or military.

“Instances of the use of certain devices by the Russian occupiers have been registered. It is beginning to take on an organized nature,” said Andriy Yusov, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Service (GUR).

GUR said the terminals are being used by forces such as Russia’s 83rd Air Assault Brigade, which is fighting near Kryschyvka and Andriivka in the partially occupied regions of eastern Donetsk.

Starlink devices are “geofenced” and will not work in unauthorized locations. For example, there has been discussion online about whether the Russian military could “spoof” geofences and make devices in blocked areas appear as if they were in authorized areas. It has also been suggested that Russian soldiers may have used illegally obtained devices in areas of Ukraine where Starlink was authorized to help Ukrainians, but were then exposed to Russian attack or occupation. ing.

In a post to X on Sunday, Musk said: “To our knowledge, Starlink has not been sold directly or indirectly to Russia…A number of false reports have claimed that SpaceX is selling Starlink terminals to Russia. This is completely false.”

Musk did not appear to say whether Russian soldiers might be acquiring and using Starlink devices. Starlink also did not say anything in his own statement about its possible use in the occupied territories of Ukraine.

“If SpaceX receives information that a Starlink device is being used by a sanctioned or unauthorized party, we will investigate the allegation and take steps to disable the device if confirmed.” Starlink stated.

Neither Musk nor Starlink outlined active efforts to prevent the Russian military from acquiring the devices or connecting to Starlink. He also did not say whether specific Ukrainian claims were being investigated.

Ukraine’s GUR agency said it had intercepted an exchange between two soldiers discussing setting up the terminal. As evidence, he posted purported audio clips of conversations on Telegram messenger.

GUR did not say how it believed the devices were acquired by the Russian military, such as whether they were procured from abroad or captured from the Ukrainian military.

on Reuters