Russian occupying forces are facing a catastrophe at the front due to the shutdown of Starlink, says Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukraine’s defense minister. According to him, the consequences for the Russian army proved far more severe than even the Russians themselves had expected.
Later, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced that a “white list” of Starlink terminals would be created in Ukraine. Only authorized devices under Ukrainian control will be allowed to operate on the country’s territory.
Without Starlink: Command collapse and halted assaults
After the restrictions were introduced, Starlink connectivity began disappearing en masse along the entire front line for Russian forces — something openly acknowledged by Russian pro-war military bloggers.
“The Russians don’t just have problems at the front. It has a catastrophe. All command and control has collapsed. Assault operations have been halted in many areas,” Beskrestnov emphasizes.
According to him, Starlink was a critical element of Russia’s command-and-control system, and its loss instantly deprived occupying forces of the ability to coordinate attacks, adjust artillery fire, and control drones.
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At the same time, clarified that some difficulties also arose for Ukrainian units, but only for those that failed to submit their terminal data in time to be included on the white list.
“The processing is ongoing,” Beskrestnov adds.
Connectivity via third countries
Earlier, Russia began using BM-35 strike drones equipped with Starlink terminals purchased through third parties. These drones were able to penetrate Ukrainian cities with little resistance, as they were largely immune to electronic warfare.
The BM-35’s warhead is roughly half the size of a Shahed’s, and due to their low flight altitude, these drones were difficult targets for air defense systems.
The mass deployment of such drones became one of the key reasons why SpaceX and the Ukrainian side moved to tighten Starlink control, which ultimately led to the collapse of Russia’s frontline communications system.
Frequently asked questions
Russian forces integrated Starlink satellite terminals into strike drones, such as the BM-35 and BM-36, to provide stable communication and navigation. This technology allowed the drones to penetrate deep into Ukrainian territory, including Kyiv, while remaining largely immune to traditional electronic warfare.
In late January 2026, SpaceX implemented technical measures to disable Starlink terminals that were being used illegally by Russian occupying forces. This intervention was aimed at cutting off the satellite communications that Russia had acquired through third-party countries.
The shutdown led to a massive collapse of Russia's frontline command-and-control system, halting assault operations in many areas. Without Starlink, Russian forces lost the ability to coordinate attacks, adjust artillery fire, and effectively control their drone fleet.
Ukraine is creating a "white list" of authorized Starlink terminals to ensure that only devices under official Ukrainian control can operate on its territory. This system is designed to prevent Russian forces from exploiting the satellite network while maintaining connectivity for Ukrainian units.
Drones equipped with Starlink were difficult to stop because the satellite link made them resistant to electronic jamming. Additionally, models like the BM-35 fly at very low altitudes, making them challenging targets for standard air defense systems.
