More details have surfaced about the use of Starlink terminals in Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine.
On Thursday, The Wall Street Journal reported that according to Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s top military intelligence officer, these terminals, produced by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, have been used behind enemy lines “for some time.”
It was earlier reported that Starlink units are being delivered to Russian forces in Ukraine “en masse,” and that these are being sold through intermediaries in Dubai. According to Budanov, Russian private firms have been passing off purchases of the terminals for personal use and have them delivered to Russia through neighboring countries.
According to the Journal, one Russian website, strlnk.ru is selling the service starting at $100 per month, promising “tested performance” in the occupied areas of Crimea, Luhansk, Donetsk and Kherson.
Starlink’s secure communication capabilities, superior to traditional cellular or radio methods, have been instrumental for Ukrainian forces, prompting a Pentagon agreement with SpaceX to finance the service for Kyiv’s military efforts.
While Musk has said that claims of SpaceX selling Starlink terminals to Russia are “categorically false,” Budanov says that “It’s an open market.” Starlink terminals are “not a military item,” he added, suggesting that Kyiv, or at least Budanov, has resigned to the fact that access to Starlink is no longer — as Musk then put it — “a major battlefield advantage.”
Information for this story was found via The Wall Street Journal, and the sources and companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
