SpaceX and Ukraine Say Steps Have Curbed Russia’s ‘Unauthorized’ Use Of Starlink To Guide Drones

Ukraine’s defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, says initial measures taken with SpaceX have delivered “real results” in stopping Russia from exploiting Starlink satellite internet to steer attack drones. Kyiv plans to require Starlink terminals operating in Ukraine to be registered and verified; unverified devices will be disabled.

What Officials Say

Fedorov told reporters that Ukrainian authorities worked with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to implement the first countermeasures. He said the next phase is deploying a system that permits only authorised Starlink terminals to operate within Ukraine. In the coming days, officials will publish simple, fast and user-friendly instructions for Ukrainian users to register their terminals; devices that remain unverified will be disabled.

“In the coming days, we will share instructions for Ukrainian users to register their Starlink terminals for verification. Unverified terminals will be disabled.” — Mykhailo Fedorov

SpaceX Response

Elon Musk responded on X, saying the steps SpaceX took to stop unauthorized use of Starlink by Russia “have worked,” and invited further requests: “Let us know if more needs to be done.” SpaceX has previously said it investigates reports that a terminal is being used by a sanctioned or unauthorized party and will deactivate confirmed violators.

Why This Matters

Since the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has relied heavily on Starlink for military communications, drone operations, government services, hospitals, schools and businesses. U.S. sanctions prohibit selling or using Starlink in Russia, yet Ukrainian officials and analysts say Russian forces have increasingly mounted terminals on attack drones to strike deeper into Ukrainian territory.

Starlink-equipped drones can travel farther than those guided by radio links or tethers, are harder to jam, and — thanks to high-speed satellite connectivity — can be controlled in near-real time from inside Russia, increasing strike precision.

Evidence and Controversy

Serhii Beskrestnov, a military-technology adviser to Ukraine’s Defence Ministry, said Kyiv has gathered evidence linking “hundreds” of attacks to Russian drones fitted with Starlink-capable terminals. Beskrestnov also suggested that a deadly strike on a civilian train in eastern Ukraine may have involved a Shahed drone using a mesh radio modem or possibly a Starlink terminal.

Over the weekend, Beskrestnov acknowledged that countermeasures temporarily disrupted some legitimate Ukrainian users and apologised: “I apologize to those who have been temporarily affected by the measures taken, but for the security of the country, these are very important and necessary actions at this time.”

Context And Past Remarks

The dispute adds to a larger public debate about SpaceX’s role. Last week, Musk insulted Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski after Sikorski asked why Musk did not stop Russians using Starlinks to target cities. In March last year, Musk called Starlink “the backbone of the Ukrainian army,” saying the front line would collapse if terminals were switched off, but pledged they would remain operational regardless of political disagreements.

In 2024, Musk said to the best of SpaceX’s knowledge no Starlink systems had been sold directly or indirectly to Russia. Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence, however, has said it confirmed use of Starlink in occupied areas.

Looking Ahead

Ukrainian officials say the verification and registration system aims to strike a balance between preventing hostile misuse and minimising disruption for civilians and the military. SpaceX and Ukrainian authorities indicate they will continue to monitor and act on confirmed cases of unauthorized use.

Reporting note: Ivana Kottasová of CNN contributed reporting.