El Mundo: Russian electronic warfare reduces Starlink’s effectiveness in Ukraine

Russian electronic warfare systems are seriously restricting the operation of the US-made Starlink satellite communications system used by Ukraine’s armed forces, Spanish newspaper El Mundo reports.

“The window of opportunity for Starlink is closing. Russian electronic warfare systems do not block it completely, but they reduce its effectiveness,” Ukrainian serviceman Igor Lutsenko told the newspaper. According to him, Ukraine “has no future without technological sovereignty.”

The reported disruption comes amid renewed uncertainty over Ukraine’s access to Starlink and the role of SpaceX founder Elon Musk in determining how the system can be used.

Sources previously told The Atlantic that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House, asked for assistance regarding the use of Starlink. Trump, according to officials, did not give a definitive answer, while SpaceX founder Elon Musk declined to meet with Zelenskyy.

On August 23, Zelenskyy said Trump had accused him of lying over the use of Starlink in Russia. According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s Defence Ministry had told him that permission had allegedly been agreed with Musk, after which he discussed the issue with Trump. It later emerged that Musk had not granted such permission.

Separately, Le Monde reported on August 17 that Ukraine’s armed forces were experiencing difficulties launching drones deep into Russian territory because Starlink terminals were being blocked. Due to the lack of Starlink connectivity and other technical capabilities, Ukrainian forces have had to pre-program the routes of unmanned aerial vehicles.

By Tamilla Hasanova