Elon Musk said SpaceX measures to block the "unauthorized" use of Starlink by Russia appear to have been effective. Kyiv — which relies on tens of thousands of Starlink terminals for communications and some drone operations — reported finding Starlink hardware on long‑range drones and is working with SpaceX to stop drone guidance. Ukraine's defence minister said a system to permit only authorised terminals in Ukraine is being developed; SpaceX reiterated it does not sell or ship Starlink to Russia.
Musk Says SpaceX Measures to Block Russia’s 'Unauthorized' Use of Starlink Appeared to Work
FILE PHOTO: Elon Musk attends the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 19, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo
Feb 1 (Reuters) — Elon Musk said on Sunday that steps taken by his SpaceX company to block what it described as the "unauthorized" use of its Starlink internet system by Russia appear to have worked. Ukraine's defence leadership said officials were pursuing further measures to prevent any future misuse by Moscow.
Ukraine's military relies on tens of thousands of Starlink satellite terminals for battlefield communications and to help pilot some drone missions. This week, Kyiv reported finding Starlink terminals on long‑range drones used in attacks attributed to Russia, prompting an immediate response from both Ukrainian authorities and SpaceX.
Coordination Between Kyiv and SpaceX
Ukrainian officials said they are coordinating with SpaceX to prevent Russia from using Starlink to guide drones. On X, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk wrote:
"Looks like the steps we took to stop the unauthorized use of Starlink by Russia have worked. Let us know if more needs to be done."
In a separate post, Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said Kyiv is developing an authorization system so that only approved Starlink terminals can operate inside Ukrainian territory. "Ukraine, together with @Starlink, has already taken the first steps that delivered rapid results in countering Russian drones," Fedorov said on X. "The next step is implementing a system that will allow only authorized terminals to operate on the territory of Ukraine."
SpaceX has reiterated it does not sell or ship Starlink to Russia and said it "does not do business of any kind with the Russian Government or its military." Musk first activated Starlink service over Ukraine in 2022 after Kyiv urgently requested connectivity in the opening days of Russia's full‑scale invasion.
This development highlights the increasingly complex role of commercial satellite communications in modern conflicts, and the steps companies and governments are taking to prevent misuse while maintaining critical services for civilians and military operations.
(Reporting by Akanksha Khushi and Preetika Parashuraman in Bengaluru; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
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