Russians begin fitting horses with Starlink terminals on the front line – video
Russian forces have begun equipping horses on the front line with Starlink satellite terminals and video surveillance systems. A video that circulated online on 8 January 2026 shows a horse with a metal frame mounted on its back, to which a Starlink antenna and a camera are attached.
Analysts from the OSINT community Special Kherson Cat note that such use of high-tech equipment points to a deep degradation of the occupying forces’ technical capabilities, forcing them to replace destroyed armoured vehicles and jeeps with animals.
Russian military have started equipping cavalry units with Starlink terminals and cameras. pic.twitter.com/Nn1cEwsSXM
— Special Kherson Cat (@bayraktar_1love) January 8, 2026
The use of Starlink on horses is intended to ensure stable communications and real-time video transmission during manoeuvres in areas where other infrastructure is unavailable or where Ukrainian electronic warfare systems are operating. It remains unclear how the terminals are powered while on the move, though experts suggest the use of high-capacity portable batteries.
Despite the bizarre appearance of these so-called “cyborg horses”, the development once again confirms the illegal supply of SpaceX Starlink terminals to the Russian army through intermediaries in third countries.
The use of cavalry for assault operations and logistics has become a systemic phenomenon for Russia. In September 2025, occupying forces began training specialised mounted units in Donetsk region, citing horses’ ability to traverse rough terrain and allegedly avoid minefields thanks to instinct. In practice, however, such methods have proven ineffective: numerous cases have been recorded in which Ukrainian FPV drones destroyed riders together with their horses before they could reach firing positions.
