OriginalSourceThe InsiderRussiaLeanUnratedCredibilityUnratedPublished07:13 UTCSourceThe InsiderRussiaLeanUnratedCredibilityUnratedPublished07:13 UTC
“Tethered to Starlink: There are reasons why it's not so easy for Ukraine to quit using Elon Musk's services”
“Since the spring of 2026, Ukrainian forces have steadily expanded their strikes against targets in the area of Russia’s operational rear. Thanks to SpaceX’s satellite communications, Ukrainian drones have been able to hit moving objects dozens or even hundreds of kilometers behind the front line.”
Ukraine depends on SpaceX satellite services for military operations
Key points
- Since spring 2026, Ukrainian drones have struck Russian rear targets using SpaceX satellite links.
- On Oct 14, restrictions on Starshield reduced drone hits by 71% on the first disruption day.
- Restrictions were lifted on Oct 24, but reimposed along the front line by Nov 12.
- Ukraine has no full independent military satellite network and faces vulnerability.
- Starlink terminals in Ukraine rose from 47,000 in 2023 to about 200,000 by 2025.
How it got here
The Insider publishes the article.
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