Last week, Ukraine announced the disabling of 'Starlink' terminals that were utilized by Russian troops, following discussions between Ukraine's defense minister and Elon Musk, whose company SpaceX operates the satellite network. This move has reportedly disrupted Russian military operations, including the use of drones, by cutting off a critical communication medium. Officials in Ukraine emphasized that the effectiveness of certain Russian military functions had already been diminished due to these actions.

Russia had been relying on thousands of smuggled 'Starlink' terminals brought into the country, often from Central Asia, to maintain communication among frontline units. The system enabled more coordinated movements and drone strikes in regions where military radio communication was unreliable or easily jammed. Ukrainian officials noted that, as a result of the blockage, Russian troops had started installing 'Starlink' terminals on their drones, significantly improving their strike precision and complicating efforts to disrupt these communications electronically.

However, Russia currently lacks any domestic alternatives that match the speed, coverage, or ease of use provided by 'Starlink'. Elon Musk stated last week that the initiatives to block Russia's access to 'Starlink' have proven effective, prompting urgency within the Russian military to search for new communications technologies that could support their operations without exposing them to further vulnerabilities.