In a recent development, Ukrainian military intelligence (GUR) reported that Russian forces have been detected using Starlink satellite internet stations on the frontline in Ukraine, a deployment described by the Ukrainian army as systematic.
Intercepts of radio communications confirmed this usage in the occupied Donetsk region, according to the Financial Times.
SpaceX, the owner of Starlink, rapidly responded, denying reports of equipment sales to the Russian military and stating that devices had not been sold directly or indirectly to Russia.
Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, affirmed these statements.
On the other hand, Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin, pointed out that Starlink services are not officially used in Russia, making their official use in the country impossible as reported by the Russian news agency Interfax.
The British newspaper also touched upon the tensions between Kyiv and Musk. Following Russia's invasion in February 2022, Musk provided thousands of Starlink units to Ukraine, but he later began restricting the service's operation in regions held by Russia since 2014, which has angered Kyiv. These developments highlight the ongoing disagreements between Kyiv and Musk, which have started to influence the front lines in Ukraine, potentially undermining the Ukrainian military's ability to use advanced technologies in conflict areas.