Media: Russia closes tech gap with Starlink terminals in Ukraine conflict

Russian forces have significantly enhanced their combat effectiveness by using illicit Starlink terminals, allowing them to coordinate assaults, conduct more drone sorties, and improve the precision of their artillery strikes.

Despite US efforts to restrict the flow of such technology, a black market for Starlink has emerged, with terminals reaching Russian troops on the front lines, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

Ukrainian soldiers report that Russia’s use of Starlink has helped close the technology gap, making their forces more agile and cohesive, particularly in the Donetsk region.

While Starlink has been a game-changer for Ukraine, providing essential communication and live battlefield views, its proliferation among Russian forces has tipped the balance in recent offensives, such as the fall of Vuhledar.

Both Kyiv and Washington are working with SpaceX to curb Russia's access to the service, but controlling illegal terminals has proven challenging due to shifting front lines and technical limitations.

Starlink terminals, which are easy to activate using foreign credentials, are sold on the grey market, primarily through Telegram. Russian forces have integrated these devices into operations, using them to control movements and improve the accuracy of attacks.

Despite efforts to block access, Russian forces continue to find ways to bypass restrictions, further complicating Ukraine’s efforts to neutralize this growing threat. Ukrainian soldiers are concerned that, so far, attempts to disrupt Russia's Starlink use have not been effective enough to make a meaningful impact on the battlefield.