Since 2023, a lot of data has appeared about the use of Starlink Internet by the Russian occupiers along the front line. They are also trying to suppress communication through Starlink in units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine. Based on the data and conclusions of experts, we will try to understand how large-scale these problems are, where the Russians take the kits, how to find out about the suppression of popular satellite communication and counteract it.

Problems with Starlink in the Armed Forces

The Ukrainian military on the front line noticed the deterioration of Starlink communication. This is attributed to the Russians’ attempts to suppress communication with the help of EW or the use of Starlink by the Russians, which creates an additional load on the satellites – Starlink terminals were spotted at the positions of the Russians. The latest version is explained by Ukrainian engineer Oleg Kutkov, who works on Starlink for the Defense Forces of Ukraine:

“About the quality of communication. This is a banal oversaturation of the zone with terminals. I will repeat that the typical diameter of the cell is 20 km. In this cell, all terminals sit on the same channel and under the same satellite-side scheduler. Both ours and not ours. Currently, an incredible number of terminals are concentrated in one zone, which the system simply cannot handle. SpaceX is already thinking about options for solving the problem.

According to him, within one small network cell it is either impossible or technically difficult to distinguish whose terminal is being used and remotely turn off only unnecessary ones.

Ukrainian military officer, as well as communications and EW equipment expert Serhii Flesh Beskrestnov, confirms the problems with Starlink at the front, but notes that they have supposedly already passed. He also talks about the heavy load on satellites and the suppression of Starlink by the Russians:

“Suppression of the input path of Starlinks at the reception frequency. I wrote about the latter several times: it can be done from a height of hundreds of meters. The presence of such interference is determined by a spectrum analyzer, but such devices (such a high frequency) are very rare at the front. And, finally, too much load on satellites from one territory. It turns out that the enemy on LZ also uses Starlink. Their additional load of satellites is clearly not part of our plans.”

Brian Clark of the Hudson Institute points to the possibility of the Russians providing a false GPS signal to the Starlink terminal to make it “think” that the user is in territory controlled by Ukraine or elsewhere where the company’s service operates.

Russia’s ability to suppress Starlink

Since the beginning of the open armed conflict, Russia has been trying to prevent Ukraine from using communications. Russian electronic warfare equipment interferes with the operation of Starlink, as well as the GPS guidance of Ukrainian bombs and drones.

However, it is not such a simple matter. Starlink’s signals are powerful and concentrated because the satellites operate at a much lower altitude than geostationary ones, according to the company. Because Starlink satellites are closer to Earth, the delay between a user’s action and the network’s response is shorter.

Brian Weeden, chief program officer of the non-profit organization Secure World Foundation, commented on the attempts to “jam” Starlink. Service signals are much more difficult to jam in the context of electronic warfare. Also, Russian hackers have not managed to hack Starlink yet, he added. Although there is very little public evidence of Russia’s electronic attacks on Starlink, its efforts do not appear to have been very successful. This opinion is confirmed by other experts. In April 2022, SpaceX tested cyberattacks in an attempt to suppress communications, which a software update managed to reflect.

It is known that the Russians used the R-330Zh “Zhitel” automobile jamming station and the “Bylyna-MM” communication satellite suppression system against Starlink. They have truck-mounted antennas that transmit high-power signals to saturate all receivers tuned to the Starlink frequency.

According to a classified US intelligence document obtained by the Washington Post last year, Russia has been testing its Tobol electronic warfare systems for months in hopes of jamming Starlink signals.

How to find out about Starlink suppression and what to do

Sergey “Flash” advises a simple, but not always possible way to find out if the Russians are suppressing Starlink, and even improve the connection in some cases:

“Do you want to understand what’s the matter? If problems arise, bury Starlink at least chest deep, while the pit should be wide (a couple of meters). If the problem did not disappear, the local EW and the enemy are of no use here.”

The expert says that the Russians are “jamming” the GPS, which impairs Starlink’s work: the equipment takes a long time to search for the network, the connection is often interrupted, and the speed is lost. The network developers have added a special function to the terminal settings for such cases. To improve the connection, you need to open the Starlink program, select Advanced from the bottom of the menu, select Debug data and enable the Use Starlink Position setting. Starlink then turns off GPS and syncs to its satellites. However, this must be done every time after restarting the terminal.

There is also the Star Debug program by the Ukrainian developer Ihor Lytvynenko. It allows you to select the “Ignore GPS” option for the terminal. This should be done after connecting to the network, and moving the terminal leads to a disconnection. The Starlink network can be used to geo-position the terminal, but this is more difficult and time-consuming.

“Mute” the Russian Starlink with the help of EW in such cases can go sideways for one’s own communication for the reasons mentioned, therefore it is more expedient to find and destroy the Russian terminals. ZSU officer Myroslav Gai says this. The correct disconnection of the Starlink of the Russians looks like this:

Use of Starlink by the Russians

Sergey Flesh confirms the technical possibility of using Starlink by the Russians on the front line. This is stated in the official coverage card on the SpaceX website. It can be seen that the coverage extends to the occupied south of Ukraine (except Crimea) and to the east (except the territories previously occupied by the terrorist organizations “DPR” and “LPR”).

If it is technically possible, nothing prevents the Russians from connecting to Starlink in these territories. Moreover, close to the front line, it is virtually impossible to distinguish Ukrainian terminals provided by volunteers from smuggled Russian ones. To connect, you must have a Starlink kit and registration data – Russians cannot register Starlink for themselves, the service does not work in Russia.

“Remember, I’ve already told you information from private sources that the Russians are using Starlink in the south. Yesterday, our mass media received information that the Russians bought a large batch of Starlinks in Dubai. The accuracy of the information should be verified by our intelligence, but I assume this option,” writes Beskrestnov.

Rumors about the mass purchase of Starlink by the Russians in Dubai were expressed by the Ukrainian military in social networks. However, this information has not received actual confirmation.

Where did the Russians get Starlink from?

Elon Musk called rumors in the press about the sale of Starlink to Russia “fake news”. As far as the owner of SpaceX is aware, Starlink kits are not sold to Russia directly or indirectly.

A number of false news reports claim that SpaceX is selling Starlink terminals to Russia.

This is categorically false.

To the best of our knowledge, no Starlinks should be made directly or in direct to Russia.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 11, 2024

Previously, SpaceX denied any cooperation with the Russian Federation. The company says it does not do any business with the Russian military or government, the Starlink service is inactive in that country and will not work.

SpaceX cannot do business of any kind with the Russian state or its military.

Starlink is not active in Russia, mechanning service not work in the country. SpaceX does not know what to eat or place Starlink in Russia, does not have its broken equipment to places in Russia. If…

— Starlink (@Starlink) February 8, 2024

Starlink service and equipment have never been sold to Russia. Those Russian sellers who offer Starlink are misleading customers. The company also notes that the service does not work in Dubai, the corresponding kits cannot be purchased there. SpaceX will deactivate the terminals if it becomes aware of their use in violation of sanctions.

Rumors about the mass purchase of Starlinks by the Russians through Dubai appeared in military reports. Experts also cited them, referring to numerous messages and closed military chats. However, there is no direct evidence for this statement in the public space yet.

This information indicates the illegal use of Starlink by Russian troops in the occupied territories of Ukraine, where there is coverage. Apparently, European or perhaps even Ukrainian accounts are involved in order to use the service. Use is limited to the front line. The same “Flash” tells about this:

“They work through European or other accounts. We will not be able to do anything about it. It will most likely not happen on a large scale. Where do you find so many Europeans who risk getting into trouble?

One of the Russian Telegram channels actually confirmed the way to acquire Starlink accounts in Europe – Russians are looking for easy money and “not smart” Europeans to register accounts for themselves:

“The whining of opponents on the topic of “where to find so many European users who agree to register Starlink for the Russian Federation” is critically senseless. Drops are everywhere. Yes, yes, Europe also has homeless and unintelligent citizens looking for remote work without skills. A bitter is enough for starlings.”

In fact, the Russians are in many ways repeating the tactics of the Ukrainian volunteers, who are shaking up and procuring Starlink terminals by any means available.

The danger of using Starlink by the Russians and the actions of Ukraine

The same source confirms that Starlink in the hands of the Russians is indeed a great danger. One of the scenarios jeopardizes trade deliveries through the ports of Ukraine, which improved last year:

“…starlink is the cornerstone of a whole range of weapons. For example, sea drones and the same Yag. After lifting the blockade, we get the opportunity to please Odessa and the ships that sail there, without attracting the attention of the orderlies.”

The Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine confirms the presence of Starlink with the Russians at the front, smuggling routes of supply and the free illegal sale of kits and accounts in the Russian Federation:

“Russia continues to work through so-called parallel imports, which are, in fact, contraband. And yes, through third countries. We will not name specific countries, and this information requires clarification, but Starlink is freely available for sale on the territory of the Russian Federation on open online sites,” said Andriy Yusov, representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of the Russian Federation.

According to the GUR, the use of Starlink by the Russian military has become more systematic – “a bet is made” on these means of communication. Ukraine is trying to resist this phenomenon, in particular with technical means, the details of which are not disclosed by the State Government. Also, the representative of intelligence emphasized that “no one claims” about the official supply of Starlink to Russia – it is about smuggling.

The Russians have Starlink, the terminals and accounts are smuggled in quite a large number, they work at least in some occupied territories. The use of Starlink by the occupiers gives them an advantage and interferes with the communication of the Armed Forces on the contact line. The Russians are also trying to “jam” Ukrainian terminals, but in some cases this can be prevented. Ukrainian intelligence studies the situation and develops means of solving it.

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