Russian command admits mass Starlink terminal outages for the first time
The military leadership of the Russian Federation has publicly confirmed critical communication problems in the combat zone.
Deputy Defence Minister Aleksei Krivoruchko stated that Starlink satellite internet terminals, which Russian units were using illegally, have not been operational for about two weeks.
Despite obvious disruptions in troop management, the Russian official is attempting to downplay the scale of the problem.
The blockade of the occupiers’ access to high-speed internet in 2026 was the result of coordinated actions by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence and SpaceX. The process began earlier this year after intelligence recorded the enemy’s widespread use of the terminals for drone guidance and fire correction.
The main tool in countering Russia’s “technological parasitism” was the introduction of so-called “whitelists.” From 1 February 2026, SpaceX effectively blocked all unverified devices in Ukraine, including temporarily occupied regions.
Previously, the occupiers lost stable communications after Starlink was disabled.
In parallel, Russia’s losses have increased sharply following the Starlink shutdown.
