The article from 15min highlights a previously unreported incident involving a Russian drone, which was shot down near a government building in Kyiv. The drone, identified as a BM-35, was flying dangerously low, allowing staff to witness its approach. The incident raised alarms in Ukraine, prompting officials to take action against the use of Starlink by the Russian military.

Following the drone incident, Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov reached out to Elon Musk to provide evidence that Russian forces were utilizing Starlink for remote drone control, including during the incident when the drone targeted a governmental area. In response to these claims, Musk and SpaceX implemented a 'whitelist' system, granting Starlink access only to verified users. As a result, Russian military personnel who had unlawfully accessed the terminals lost their connectivity.

The decision to restrict Starlink access had immediate implications on the battlefield, disrupting the coordination of Russian forces. Consequently, the Ukrainian armed forces reported certain military successes shortly after these restrictions were imposed. This article sheds light on the significant impact that private technology providers can have on modern warfare and strategic military operations.