From now on, all critical infrastructure and large-scale military equipment movements in Ukraine must be protected by German "Gepard" anti-aircraft guns. Important military convoys must also be escorted by air defense systems after Russia equipped its Shahed drones with Starlink satellite communications, says aviation expert Valerii Romanenko, UNIAN reports.
These modified drones carry a 50 kg warhead, approximately half the weight of a standard Shahed, but remain highly dangerous due to their enhanced targeting capabilities.
Russian forces have already demonstrated the effectiveness of these upgraded weapons, striking a helicopter staging area near Kropyvnytskyi. During the attack, operators controlled the drones in real time, allowing for precise targeting.
Ukraine needs an emergency Starlink "kill switch"
Romanenko emphasizes that Ukraine must urgently coordinate with the US and Elon Musk to address Russia's unauthorized use of Starlink technology, and that it may be possible to reach an agreement to temporarily disable the service during attacks.
When asked whether it's technically feasible to limit or track Russia's Starlink usage, Romanenko said Ukraine could manage the monitoring.
"We should request that they promptly disable Starlink when there's suspicion of mass Shahed launches equipped with this technology. If the internet connection is severed, the drones should lose guidance and fall," he says.
Russians are directing kamikaze drones at power plants and military airfields
The expert warns that drones capable of flying at ultra-low altitudes under manual control represent an escalating danger to Ukraine. Tactical approaches must be constantly refined.
"Helicopters at frontline operational airfields must not be left unattended. High-value combat equipment cannot be left unprotected," Romanenko stresses.
If sophisticated air defense systems are deployed, they must also be protected by low-altitude coverage, such as Gepards or artillery systems.
Traditional electronic warfare (EW) countermeasures prove ineffective against these Starlink-equipped drones. The advantage of Starlink is that it cannot be jammed.
"This is satellite communication using low-orbit satellites, and the Russians are essentially exploiting our own advantages," Romanenko explains.
There is no Starlink coverage over Russia, but when Russian drones fly into Ukrainian territory, they connect to Ukrainian Starlink infrastructure. They fly to Ukraine using our own Starlink.
The Russians have obtained Western-made radio-electronic components through indirect channels, such as private individuals and companies acting as intermediaries.
Today, an air raid alert in Kyiv lasted 4.5 hours, triggered by what are believed to be Starlink-equipped Shaheds. The drones were observed over multiple power plants in the Ukrainian capital. The alert was only activated after residents reported seeing drones directly above their buildings.
