Ukraine's Ministry of Defense has begun working with SpaceX to address the use of Starlink satellite communications on Russian drones, according to Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
"Within hours of Russian drones with Starlink connectivity appearing over Ukrainian cities, the Ministry of Defense team promptly contacted SpaceX and proposed ways to resolve this problem," Fedorov stated.
The minister expressed gratitude to SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell and Elon Musk personally "for the quick reaction and beginning work on resolving the situation."
Ukrainian drone expert Pavlo Kashchuk recently reported that Russia has started serially integrating Starlink satellite communication terminals into its strike drones, including the Shahed, Gerbera, BM35, and Molniya models. Fedorov confirmed this information the same day at the Army of Drones – 2025 event.
The defense minister emphasized the strategic importance of SpaceX's initial support for Ukraine. "Elon Musk's decision to urgently activate Starlink and send the first batch of terminals to Ukraine at the beginning of the full-scale invasion was critically important for our state's resilience," Fedorov said.
He added that "Western technologies must continue to help the democratic world and protect the civilian population, rather than be used for terror and the destruction of peaceful cities."
