Russia's government orders batches of T2 SIM cards for Shahed manufacturers, with the operator supplying them directly to drone producers, equipping every long-range strike drone it fires at Ukraine, Ukraine's Defense Ministry advisor Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov reported on 17 April. Ukraine has blocked T2 roaming on its territory, but the drones still receive mobile signal near the borders with Belarus, Poland, and Romania — and the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assessed that Russia likely intends to exploit further loopholes in European telecommunications infrastructure.
T2 SIM cards in every Shahed
T2 is a subsidiary of Rostelecom, Russia's state-owned telecommunications operator. Russia's government places special bulk orders for the SIM cards, which T2 then supplies Shahed drone producers, Beskrestnov reported.
The SIM cards give Russia three capabilities: remote drone control, telemetry data transmission, and real-time footage streamed back to operators. Russia installs one in every Shahed it builds.
"Every 'shahid' is equipped with a 'Tele2' SIM card. Batches of these SIM cards are specially ordered by the operator and supplied to the manufacturers of the 'shahids,'" Beskrestnov stated.
Ukraine blocked them — so the drones rerouted
Ukraine blocked T2 roaming on its mobile networks. Russia found a workaround, flying the drones along Ukraine's borders in the northwest, southwest, and the west.
Shaheds flying near the Belarusian border connect to Belarusian operators' networks instead. Near the Polish and Romanian borders, the drones switch to Polish and Romanian roaming networks, Beskrestnov reported.
"In Ukraine, roaming for 'Tele2' SIM cards on 'Shaheds' is blocked, but along the borders, 'Shaheds' receive roaming services, for example, from Belarusian operators. SIM cards can also operate in roaming with Polish or Romanian operators while flying along the borders with those countries," he said.
Beskrestnov's warning to European telecoms
Beskrestnov went further than the current findings. He said he does not rule out T2 SIM cards being used to control the unidentified drones appearing in various European countries — a phenomenon Euromaidan Press has previously reported may be part of Russia's effort to probe European air defenses and divert defense spending away from Ukraine.
He called on all mobile and fixed-line operators worldwide to cut business ties with T2.
"I believe that mobile and fixed-line operators throughout the civilized world must sever business ties with the operator used by the Russian Federation for terrorist purposes. This concerns roaming agreements and international interconnection," he stated. "Tele2 should become a local domestic Russian telecommunications operator."
Beskrestnov noted he had already discussed the issue with Vladyslav Vlasiuk, who heads Ukraine's sanctions implementation work.
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