Russian forces have for the first time controlled a “Shahed” drone via Starlink.
On 15 January, the first recorded instance of Russian forces operating a BM-35 strike unmanned aerial vehicle via the Starlink system was documented.
This was reported by radio-electronic warfare and communications specialist Serhii Beskrestnov (callsign “Flash”).
According to him, the use of Starlink had previously been observed only on reconnaissance-strike drones of the “Molniya” type, but the technology is now being deployed on full-scale strike UAVs as well.
The expert stressed that the appearance of kamikaze drones, including the “Shahed” type, controlled via Starlink is a matter of the very near future. In his assessment, this is not a question of months, but of days.
Beskrestnov noted that such UAVs would be virtually immune to electronic warfare countermeasures and would be able to strike targets with high precision under the control of operators based on Russian territory.
A new threat has been recorded along the Kovel–Kyiv railway line following attacks by enemy kamikaze drones. Some of the UAVs may be dropping magnetic mines directly onto the ground.
Russian forces carried out a massive attack using Shahed-131/136 drones against critical infrastructure in Mykolaiv region, leaving parts of several settlements without electricity.
