Russian forces escalate tech race with illegal Starlink use
Russian forces are illegally acquiring Starlink terminals to achieve technological parity with Ukraine, writes the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in its latest report.
7:59 AM EDT, October 13, 2024
By illegally acquiring Starlink terminals, the Russians aim to improve combat coordination and the effectiveness of their strike reconnaissance, analysts explained.
Russians illegally acquire modern technology
Ukrainian military personnel operating in the Donetsk region told "The Washington Post" that the terminals are increasingly appearing at Russian positions. The illegally obtained technology is helping the opponent solve ongoing problems with combat coordination and communication.
The arrival of the terminals—as the Ukrainians pointed out—is associated with a decrease in the number of intercepted Russian radio transmissions. Ukrainian soldiers also attribute some recent Russian advances to the use of Starlink.
"Access to Starlink terminals has given Ukraine a technological edge that allows for more effective coordination of combat operations and the implementation of new reconnaissance solutions. Russian forces are likely attempting to degrade this advantage by increasing their own use of the terminals," ISW summarized.
Starlink satellites aid Ukraine
The Starlink satellite network system belongs to Elon Musk's SpaceX company.
Starlink terminals help Ukrainian soldiers operate drones, receive important intelligence information, and communicate with each other in areas where other secure networks are unavailable.
The compact systems, which combine a small antenna with a 14-inch terminal, also provide internet to Ukrainian non-governmental organizations, civilians, and support infrastructure across the country.
