- Ukraine’s Defence Minister praised SpaceX’s “swift response” amid reports that Russia leveraged Starlink satellite systems.
- Russian forces reportedly used the LEO constellation to extend the range of its BM-35 attack drones to 500 kilometres.
- This isn’t the first instance of Russia equipping its drones with Starlink, based on Ukrainian intelligence reports linking Starlink to Shaheds in 2024 and Molniya units last month.
Ukraine’s new Defence Minister Mykhailo Federov praised US broadband provider SpaceX on January 29 for “beginning work on a solution” to limit Russia’s utilization of Starlink satellite systems to enhance drone operations within his war-torn country.
His acknowledgment followed reports, validated by the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), indicating that Russian military forces were increasingly leveraging the satellite-based internet provider to extend the range of their BM-35 attack drones by as much as 500 kilometers.
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Based on the think tank’s findings, this enhanced coverage potentially allows Russia to execute strikes into Central Europe. Should these drones be launched from Belarus or Russia, ISW noted that the operational reach could encompass most of Ukraine, all of Moldova, and significant portions of Poland, Romania, and Lithuania.
Russia has done this before
The BM-35, categorized as a loitering munition or a one-way effector, was reportedly first deployed in September 2025. Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) claims that this uncrewed air system (UAS) consists of various foreign-made components, which include elements sourced from Europe and the United States.
This revelation isn’t unprecedented; Western components have been frequently identified within Russian weapon systems on the battlefield in Ukraine.
Moreover, the GUR has previously accused Russia of integrating other types of UAS with Starlink. Last month, intelligence revealed that the Molniya-2P first-person view (FPV) UAS also leveraged the low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation to transmit video signals, along with telemetry and control commands.
In addition, other systems like the long-range Shahed UAS were tied to Starlink in September 2024. Recent reports from Reuters indicated that downed Shaheds have been found equipped with Starlink terminals, bolstered by comments from Serhiy Beskrestnov, a newly appointed adviser to Fedorov.
Starlink policy
Starlink consists of a constellation of thousands of satellites orbiting Earth at approximately 550 km altitude, providing near-global coverage. Due to their proximity, latency is significantly lower compared to traditional broadband services, which typically operate from much higher, geostationary orbits.
In his social media update, Federov emphasized that “Western technologies must continue to support the democratic world and protect civilians.”
However, SpaceX’s policy regarding the use of Starlink is intricate. The situation is further complicated by Russian denials, leading SpaceX to avoid extending support for Ukraine’s offensive operations. This has created tensions, especially in 2023, as SpaceX CEO Gwynne Shotwell has made it clear that the company would not extend capabilities beyond their communication services for Ukraine.
